TRANSPORT

Air Passenger Duty: Repayments

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to end the practice of budget airlines  (a) not to refund air passenger duty to their customers who do not use their flights and  (b) levying handling charges to make refunds of air passenger duty to customers who do not use their flights unviable; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Air passenger duty (APD) is a statutory duty levied on aircraft operators and liability is determined based on the number of passengers they carry from UK airports. It is for aircraft operators to decide whether to absorb this levy or pass it on to their customers and whether a refund is made of air passenger duty, or any other portion of the ticket price if the passenger does not travel.
	Many airlines, not just low cost airlines, specify on their on-line terms and conditions before booking that charges are applicable for refunds including APD.
	The imposition of a reasonable service fee was approved by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and further recognised in the 2007 OFT reference to the Competition Commission. Passengers are always advised to check the terms and conditions of a ticket before booking.

Bicycles: Helmets

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the proportion of  (a) adult and  (b) child cyclists who wear helmets; and what estimate she has made of those numbers (i) five and (ii) 10 years ago.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Surveys of cycle helmet wearing rates have been carried out for the Department in 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2006. The findings from surveys from 1994 to 2004 are shown in the following table. This shows that in 2004 cycle helmets were worn by:
	10.8 per cent. of male cyclists under 16
	28.7 per cent. of male cyclists 16 years and over
	26.3 per cent. of female cyclists under 16
	29.7 per cent. of female cyclists 16 years and over.
	The 2006 survey of cycle helmet wearing rates will be published in the autumn.
	
		
			   1994  1996  1999  2002  2004 
			  Male  
			 Under 16 16.0 13.3 12.7 12.3 10.8 
			 16 years and over 15.5 16.7 22.2 25.2 28.7 
			  Female  
			 Under 16 21.9 17.6 20.9 24.4 26.3 
			 16 years and over 17.0 17.5 22.2 27.0 29.7 
			   
			  All  
			 Under 16 17.6 14.4 15.0 15.3 14.1 
			 16 years and over 15.9 17.0 22.2 25.7 29.0

Bicycles: Helmets

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the Government's evaluation of cycle helmet effectiveness to be completed.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department is planning to commission a new research project on cyclists' road safety in the autumn. This will include a new review of cycle helmet effectiveness. The research project as a whole is likely to take three years, but we are aiming to complete the review of cycle helmet effectiveness within two years, so by autumn 2009.

Bus Services: Gravesham

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much subsidy was paid to bus service operators in Gravesham in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) is the only grant paid by the Department direct to operators of local bus services. It is based on the amount of fuel used on providing services and is essentially a reimbursement of about 80 per cent. of the fuel duty incurred.
	The Department holds national figures on BSOG spend which is anticipated to be £413 million in financial year 2007-08. We estimate that BSOG payments to operators in the South East region now total around £40 million annually.
	Eligible operators based in the Gravesham area may not necessarily run their services in the area. Conversely, operators based outside of Gravesham may well run services within the area.

Buses: Registration

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost of the re-registration of excursion services as local bus services using coaches when the Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme is implemented in April 2008.

Rosie Winterton: None. A service will be eligible to offer the statutory concessions only if it meets the criteria set out in the Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) Order 2002.
	The Department expects that the majority of 'excursion' services will not meet all the eligibility criteria and so will not have to offer the national bus concession. It will be for operators and local authorities to assess which services are covered in accordance with the criteria set out in existing legislation.
	The Department is keeping the issue of 'eligible' services under review. The definition can be changed by secondary legislation.

Cycling: Accidents

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons were for the decision to change the way in which child pedal cycle injuries are recorded in the road casualty statistics published on 28 June 2007; and how many such injuries there were in the period covered.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The way the statistics on child pedal cycle casualties are published has not changed. Child pedal cyclist casualties (aged 0 to 15) are given in Table 2 of "Road Casualties Great Britain: Main results 2006". This was published on 28 June 2007 and copies of this publication have been deposited in the Libraries of the House. There were 3,795 child pedal cyclists injured in reported personal injury road accidents in 2006.

Departments: Public Transport

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incentives she has considered to encourage staff in her Department to use public transport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department has for several years made available for full and part-time permanent staff, who have been Civil Servants for a full three months, season ticket advances to assist in the cost of their journey to work by public transport. All such loans are interest free and provided they do not exceed £5,000 do not attract income tax on "interest free loans" under the Inland Revenue's "benefits in kind" rules. All season ticket loans are repaid from deductions from salary within the term of the loan, normally 12 months.
	DVLA provides a shuttle bus service between its two HQ sites to reduce excessive vehicle use and provides in-house bus services to a number of local areas.
	VCA successfully campaigned for bus stops outside their Bristol offices, to encourage staff to use the local services.

Departments: Publicity

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the cost effectiveness of advertising commissioned by her Department in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The major campaign activity undertaken by the Department in the 2006-07 fiscal year was in support of the THINK! road safety; Act on CO2 (launched in March 07); aviation security informing travellers about new security rules; and the continuous registration campaign (car tax evasion).
	We measure the effectiveness of our campaigns through regular independent pre and post-advertising tracking research which explored:
	the attitudes and behaviour of the general public towards the above campaign issues
	the awareness of each burst of advertising to inform us what percentage of our target audience has been reached and the message take-out.
	For the THINK! campaign we also conduct an annual THINK! survey to track long-term shifts in driver and public beliefs and behaviours towards road safety, details of which are available at www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk. Ultimately, for THINK! we are judged by the number of people killed or seriously injured and we are on course to meet our demanding road safety targets.
	On the continuous registration campaign, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our advertising, in addition to tracking research, in terms of the impact on volumes of licensing/statutory off-road notification (SORN) transactions processed and volumes of late licensing penalties issued to those who delay renewing their licence for two months post licence expiry. We also take into account evasion levels as reported in the annual roadside survey.
	Finally, we also measure how effectively we buy advertising space compared to other advertisers and can demonstrate that we are achieving highly competitive prices for the taxpayer.

Driving: Licensing

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that information obtained from driving licences using scanning equipment at commercial venues is not misused and that data protection requirements are met.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The purpose of the driving licence is to confirm an individual's entitlement to drive. It is not an identity document and is not intended to be used as such. If a licence holder volunteers information to a commercial entity, it is the responsibility of that organisation to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act. It is the responsibility of the Information Commissioner to enforce compliance with the Data Protection Act. DVLA does not have any legal power to monitor data protection compliance of commercial organisation in such circumstances.

M1: Closures

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the M1 motorway northbound was closed on 5 July 2007; upon whose authority the motorway was closed; and what investigation or inquiry will be held into the circumstances of this closure operation and the reason for it.

Tom Harris: A road traffic collision involving four large goods vehicles occurred on the northbound carriageway of M1 adjacent to the J20 northbound entry slip at 2.50 am on 5 July. Leicestershire police led the incident and directed that the motorway should be closed in order to deal with the casualties and recover the vehicles involved. This was a serious incident involving one death and life-threatening injuries to a second driver who had to be released from his vehicle by the emergency services.
	The police handed over the scene to the Highways Agency at 2.51 pm, following the removal of the last vehicle, to prepare the road for reopening. A large amount of diesel and spilled loads had to be cleared and temporary repairs to be made to the carriageway surface before the carriageway could be reopened, which was achieved at 4.44 pm. A permanent repair was left until it could be carried out overnight when there would be less disruption to the travelling public.
	Leicestershire police are carrying out their own investigation of the circumstances of the incident and the matter has been voluntarily referred by the police to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) who will oversee the result of the police investigation. All of the Highways Agency staff involved in the incident (both in the East Midlands control room and on-road Traffic Officers) were de-briefed on the day of the incident in order to identify and learn any lessons from the Agency's handling of the incident.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she will answer the letter to her predecessor of 24 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J. Woolley.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A reply was sent on the 26 June 2007 by the then Secretary of State for Transport.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will negotiate amendments to the Motor Insurers Bureau Untraced Drivers Agreement following the judgment in Byrne v MIB; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The recent judgment on the preliminary issues in the matter of Ben Byrne v (1) the Motor Insurance Bureau and (2) the Secretary of State for Transport is presently the subject of an appeal. In those circumstances it would not be appropriate to make any further comments on the case. Once the case has been finally determined we will carefully consider the decision and any steps that may need to be taken.

Motorcycles: Training

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorcyclists were issued with a Certificate of Completion DL196 in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driving Standards Agency does not record how many motorcyclists were issued with form DL196 broken down by local authority area.
	The following table shows how many DL196 certificates were sold to Approved Training Bodies in each of the last five financial years:
	
		
			  Year sold  DL196 certificates 
			 2002-03 170,792 
			 2003-04 184,256 
			 2004-05 179,200 
			 2005-06 178,625 
			 2006-07 183,600

Motorcycles: Training

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Certificate of Completion DL196 certificates were reissued to motorcyclists following the expiry of a DL196 certificate previously issued in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information is not collected about the number of DL196 certificates issued to riders who have retaken Compulsory Basic Training following the expiry of an earlier certificate.

New Cross Country Rail Franchise

Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 53-54WS, on the new cross country rail franchise, which North West passengers will lose current direct journey opportunities; from which stations in the North West; and to which destinations in the South West and south coast.

Tom Harris: At the commencement of the December 2007 passenger rail timetable, direct rail services are no longer specified from Carlisle, Penrith, Oxenholme, Lancaster, Preston, Wigan North Western and Warrington Bank Quay to Cheltenham Spa, Bristol Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads and stations in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall or to Birmingham International, Coventry, Leamington Spa, Banbury, Oxford, Reading and stations in Hampshire and Dorset.
	These changes were set out in the stakeholder briefing document which was published in October 2006.

Railway Stations: Lifts

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway stations from the 251st busiest to the least busiest in England have a passenger lift.

Tom Harris: The Department does not hold information about facilities at stations. This information is collated by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and published at:
	www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Railways: Freight

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it remains the Government's policy that there should be three or four rail freight interchanges around London.

Tom Harris: Our position is still as set out in the former "Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Policy" 2004 that, for London and the South-East, required capacity would be met by three or four new strategic rail freight interchanges in the region. But it is for the private sector to develop such proposals and progress them through the necessary approvals including planning consent.
	This document is available from the House Library or the DFT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/railfreight/strategicrail freightintercha3222.

Roads: Compensation

David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects  (a) the negotiation of the Highways Agency to appoint a firm of consultants on fees to be completed and  (b) the results of the negotiation to be made public, referred to in the statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport of 14 December 2005,  Official Report, column 489WH.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency appointed consultants in January 2006 to make recommendations on the amount it should repay to a successful claimant under Part I Land Compensation Act 1973 for the work of his/her agent. The consultants have produced a draft report and conducted further consultation with interested parties. The Highways Agency is now considering their recommendations and hopes to make an announcement shortly.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Flood Control: Manpower

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff are employed by the Environment Agency at the regional emergency control centre in Worthing; how many of these he expects to be made redundant when the Worthing office closes; and what impact he expects the closure of the office to have on the capability to manage flooding and other emergencies in the area.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 12 July 2007
	The Environment Agency employs approximately 350 people in Worthing, based on two principal offices—a regional office in Guildbourne House and an area office in Saxon House.
	Staffing matters are an issue for the Environment Agency. The Government would not expect the changes to have any adverse impact on the Agency's capability to manage flooding and emergencies in the area.

Floods

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what evidential basis the Environment Agency reaches its conclusions about the probability of particular flooding episodes; whether any change will be made to the Agency's mechanisms for assessing that probability following the recent floods; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency uses the methods contained in the Flood Estimation Handbook (published by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology), in conjunction with the data on rainfall and river flows collected during a flood event, to assess the probability of such an event.
	The data from each event become part of the ongoing record and will inform future updates of the Flood Estimation Handbook. There are currently no plans to change this mechanism.

Floods

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he intends to revise the Government's first response to the Making space for water consultation following the recent floods.

Phil Woolas: The first response to Making space for water, the cross-Government flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy, sets out what we plan to do. A detailed programme of work has been developed to take this forward.
	The programme is already addressing some of the issues highlighted by recent events, but we will consider whether there are any further implications, including changes to our long-term aims and objectives, following the completion of the lessons learned exercise.

Floods

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what standards are required of water companies to ensure that pumping stations for drainage of low-lying areas are themselves protected against flooding.

Phil Woolas: Sewage pumping stations are designed to convey flows arising from a once in 30 years storm. The majority of stations are designed with submersible pumps and many have duplicated multi-pump arrangements to mitigate against the failure of one pump. As part of the design check, they should be reliable, efficient and capable of dealing with the once in 30 years level of storm intensity at the pumping station itself. Emergency overflows are also provided at most sewage pumping stations to further protect the station from flooding in extreme wet weather events. The detailed design and site-specific design of such facilities is a matter for the water companies and, where appropriate, the planning authority.

Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information he has received from  (a) the Environment Agency and  (b) the insurance industry on the proportion of flooding in England caused by surface water in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 12 July 2007
	I have received no such information. The Environment Agency's national flood risk assessments estimate the numbers of properties at different probabilities of flood risk (but do not separately identify those which have actually flooded). The most recent of these was completed in 2006. The Office of the Water Regulator (Ofwat) compile figures on the numbers of properties at varying risk of flooding from overloaded sewers. DEFRA does not hold comprehensive national figures on the numbers of properties flooded from all sources of flooding (river, sea, surface, groundwater and sewer) in any given year.

Floods: Gloucestershire

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with  (a) the Environment Agency,  (b) district councils and  (c) Gloucestershire county council on the recent floods in Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have discussed the recent widespread flooding with the Environment Agency but have not yet had focused discussions on the specific flooding that occurred in Gloucestershire. We will review the circumstances surrounding the flooding as a whole to see if lessons need to be learned and applied.

Floods: Gloucestershire

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the condition of the drains in Gloucestershire following the recent floods in that county; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Drainage is a complex issue and responsibility rests with water and sewerage companies, the Environment Agency, local authorities and private owners. It is for the owners of the drains to assess and ensure their operability.
	There is a need to review the circumstances surrounding the recent flooding to see if lessons need to be learned and applied. This will have to consider the complex interaction between the various sources of flood risk involved.

Floods: Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the damage caused by flooding in Hertfordshire in the last five years;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Environmental Agency on improving flood defences in Hertfordshire in light of the recent weather conditions;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of flood defences in Hertfordshire in light of the recent weather conditions;
	(4)  how much his Department spent on  (a) managing and  (b) improving flood defences in Hertfordshire in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA provides the Environment Agency with a budget (£436 million this year) towards its national flood risk management activities. Decisions on which improvement projects to promote with this money rest with the Environment Agency within the overall policy and prioritisation framework set by the Government. I have not yet had any discussions with the Agency about Hertfordshire in particular.
	I understand from the Environment Agency that the only significant flooding that has occurred in the last five years was in 2002 when the River Colne overtopped its banks adjacent to Lower High Street, Watford. 25 commercial properties were flooded.
	The Environment Agency completed works to construct a flood wall at the location in March 2007. The Environment Agency carries out routine inspections of flood defence assets. Currently, 95 per cent. of all Environment Agency and third party-owned flood defence assets within Hertfordshire are at or above a nationally defined target level.
	The Environment Agency operates a risk-based inspection programme of all flood defence structures located upon the main river network. The frequency of these inspections is determined by a risk assessment of the consequences of failure of a particular structure. The rolling programme of inspection covers Hertfordshire and the rest of the country.
	The recent weather conditions have not presented new information that creates a need to revise this inspection programme for any main river systems within Hertfordshire. All main river flood defences within Hertfordshire are fully assessed in terms of their adequacy and priority for any maintenance needed. Where third party-owned assets require maintenance the Environment Agency informs the owners of what is needed and follows up to ensure that the works are carried out.
	The following tables provide information on Environment Agency spending on  (a) managing and  (b) improving flood defences in Hertfordshire in each of the last five years for which the information is available.
	
		
			   Amount spent (£) 
			  Managing flood defences  
			 2007-08 (1 )890,000 
			 2006-07 870,000 
			 2005-06 831,000 
			 2004-05 799,000 
			 2003-04 (2 )750,000 
			  Improving flood defences  
			 2006-07 435,000 
			 2005-06 122,000 
			 2004-05 270,000 
			 2003-04 415,000 
			 2002-03 240,000 
			 (1 )Amount scheduled for current financial year (2) This figure is estimated

Floods: Sheffield

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial support the Government plan to provide to assist Sheffield in the aftermath of the recent floods.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 29 June 2007
	Emergency financial assistance can be made available to local authorities under the Bellwin scheme. The scheme is operated by the Department for Communities and Local Government to help with non-insurable clear-up costs incurred in taking immediate action to safeguard life and property following a disaster or emergency in their area.
	In addition, a support package has been put together by Department for Communities and Local Government to assist recovery from the floods. £10 million is being made available to local authorities in flood hit areas to support the work that they and other organisations are already doing to help recovery. A further £3 million from Department for Transport for local authorities is available to pay for repair to damaged roads. A contingency reserve of £1 million is to be made available by the Department for Work and Pensions to meet additional grant applications arising out of the recent floods. This can cover replacement of essential household items for communities.
	In relation to commercial businesses, Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency (RDA) for the Yorkshire and Humber region, intends to set up a small-scale recovery scheme for small businesses. The scheme will be run in conjunction with Business Link South Yorkshire and will provide funding assistance for immediate recovery needs. They will be contacting larger companies on an individual basis to discuss their specific needs and how best the RDA might support them.
	The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely working with local councils and agencies to assess what more it can do in the coming days and weeks.

Pesticides: Licensing

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many charges were heard in court during the prosecution of John Rawlings for storing illegal pesticides; what the results of the case were; what order was made for costs; why the complete report on the case was not posted on the website of the Pesticides Safety Directorate and his Department; what steps he proposes to take following the words of the judge in the case about his Department's collaboration with chemical companies to maintain a cartel; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: In the case of R.  v. Rawlings heard in Shrewsbury Crown court last month, the defendant was found guilty on three out of 14 counts of storage of non-approved pesticides. The judge imposed a conditional discharge for two years in relation to each count. The jury were unable to reach a verdict on the remaining 11 counts. The defendant was ordered to pay £8,500 towards prosecution costs but was granted 50 per cent. of his defence costs from central funds to be calculated at the legal aid rate. The Department does not post complete reports of court cases on its website as it is impractical. A news release, however, was issued summarising the outcome.
	The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is studying the court transcript and will be responding to the judge's comments about the differential in prices between pesticides in the UK and similar pesticides in other member states. The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food (the Curry Commission) recommended in 2002 a move towards a more harmonised system for approvals of pesticides across the EC. Proposals from the European Commission for amendment of the approvals regime, which are currently under negotiation, will help to achieve that objective.
	Meanwhile to secure safety of operators, consumers, bystanders, residents and the environment, only pesticides approved as safe under UK conditions may be stored, sold or used in the UK. In the case of pesticides imported from other member states, approval is given, subject to a fee to cover administrative costs, if it is demonstrated firstly that the imported product is not materially different to one approved for UK use, and secondly that the label bears the necessary safety information, in English. Some 145 such approvals for "parallel imports" are issued each year. They are not time limited.

Recycling: Small Businesses

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to encourage small businesses to improve their recycling rate.

Joan Ruddock: 'Waste Strategy for England 2007', published on 24 May 2007, sets out a range of measures which will help businesses of all sizes to improve their recycling rates.
	These measures include: a higher and faster rate of increase in the landfill tax escalator, which will make it cheaper for businesses to separate waste materials for recycling; and continued advice and support through the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme.
	BREW is funded through the landfill tax, and is aimed at reducing the amount of waste that businesses produce and improving their resource efficiency, including through increased rates of recycling. Results from the first year of the programme suggest that businesses have saved over £4 for each £1 invested through BREW, as well as increased environmental benefits.
	In the strategy, the Government encourage local authorities to take on a wider role to help local, particularly smaller, business to reduce and recycle their waste. A joint Local Government Association/National Industrial Symbiosis Programme/Oxfordshire county council project, funded through BREW, is piloting work on what local authorities can do to contribute effectively to business waste management and resource efficiency (including trade waste recycling collection services). In addition, the Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) is running pilots of recycling collection services for smaller to medium sized enterprises (SME) waste.
	Further details on these and other measures aimed at improving small business recycling rates are available in the strategy, which is available on the DEFRA website and in the Library of the House.

Waste Management

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of waste emissions from eco-centres and recycling plants;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to prevent recycling plants and eco-centres emitting noxious smells.

Joan Ruddock: All establishments and undertakings carrying out waste management activities need to hold a waste management licence or register for an exemption from the need for one.
	Sites operating under a waste management licence, or an exemption, have an overarching requirement to recover or dispose of waste without causing harm to human health or pollution of the environment. This includes not causing a nuisance through odour. The Environment Agency is the competent authority responsible for carrying out regular inspections of such sites to assess compliance with licence conditions.
	Under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities can also serve nuisance abatement notices for sites emitting nuisance odours.

DEFENCE

Defence Export Services Organisation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Defence Export Services Organisation.

Des Browne: Following the recent capability review of the Ministry of Defence, we are reviewing the function of the head office better to align with recent changes elsewhere in the Department, such as the creation of Defence Equipment and Support and the merger of the single service headquarters. This review includes the Defence Export Services Organisation. The review is due to make recommendations later this year.

Defence Export Services Organisation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Defence Export Services Organisation.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable).

Defence Export Services Organisation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on the future of the Defence Export Services Organisation.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 12 July 2007
	We regularly discuss with industry the support provided to defence exports.

Ministerial Absences

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will undertake his ministerial responsibilities in his absence on other official duties; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: I remain in charge of the Department when absent from the Department on official duties. In accordance with the ministerial code, appropriate arrangements are made for ministerial cover when any Minister is absent.

Mental Health

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on mental health support services for members of the armed forces.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb).

Iraq

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of levels of force protection in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Force protection levels are constantly assessed and reviewed by military commanders in theatre as well as at the UK permanent joint headquarters in order to meet the evolving threat that troops face in Iraq. A range of new capabilities have been deployed in response to these assessments including new intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance systems, new and upgraded armoured vehicles and base protection measures.

Iraq

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Iraq.

Des Browne: The security situation in Iraq varies from province to province. In Baghdad, violence perpetrated by sectarian and insurgent groups remains a serious problem, although recent action by Iraqi and coalition forces as part of Fardh al Qanoon, has led to some reduction in violence against civilians.
	Outside Baghdad and its environs the security situation is better.
	In Basra the violence is a result of a struggle between Shia Militia groups vying for power and money.

Troop Protection

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the protection of British armed forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Des Browne: A number of new capabilities have been deployed to each theatre in recent months including intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance systems, new, better protected armoured vehicles and additional base protection measures. More are due to arrive before the end of the year.

Afghanistan

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in development and reconstruction in Helmand province.

Des Browne: The Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team has implemented over 130 projects to provide tangible benefits to local Afghans, often with engineering support from the military. Examples include the building, extending or refurbishing of 12 schools, the construction of three new parks—including a women's park—six projects improving local healthcare facilities, including the construction of a 20-room midwifery hostel, and five projects improving the rivers and irrigation canals that enable local farmers to earn a living.

Afghanistan

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to discuss with military commanders the helicopter lift requirements for operations in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: I meet frequently with military commanders to discuss operations in Afghanistan and we keep our force levels and equipment requirements under constant review. We have sufficient helicopters to undertake the key tasks required of them but we all recognise that operational commanders would be able to do more with additional resources. For that reason, we have announced the purchase of six additional Merlin helicopters and the conversion and earlier availability of eight Chinooks.

Dartmoor: Farmers' Compensation

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will increase the level of compensation his Department provides for hill livestock farmers within the Dartmoor National Park when live firing takes place; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The compensation payment levels are enshrined in an agreement with the Commoners' Associations. These are reviewed every three years with the next one being due this coming September. For obvious reasons I would not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the discussions with the Associations.

Flooding Assistance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the UK armed forces have played in assisting people during the recent floods in England.

Bob Ainsworth: The armed forces provided valuable assistance during recent floods in Yorkshire and Humberside, and were available to provide further assistance elsewhere in the country if requested.

Fleet Requirements

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many destroyers and frigates are required by the fleet.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond).

Eurofighter

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role his Department will play in securing further overseas orders for the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence continues to co-ordinate Government support to UK industry to help win export orders for Eurofighter Typhoon.

Darfur

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support he has provided to the African Union Mission to Darfur.

Bob Ainsworth: The UK has, over the last three years, provided significant assistance to the African Union Mission in Darfur. This includes vehicles and other equipment, technical military advice and training to a number of troop-contributing countries and airlift for Nigerian soldiers. Over and above this ongoing effort, we currently have six specialist military officers in key positions, ensuring our military contribution is focused in those areas where we can have best effect. We will consider future requests for support from either the African Union or the United Nations.

Falklands Anniversary

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the impact of the events held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict.

Derek Twigg: The veterans, widows and families involved in the events held both in the UK and in the Falkland Islands considered them to have been a tremendous success. They appreciated the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and the courage, sacrifice and professionalism of all those, both military and civilian, who contributed to the liberation of the islands in 1982. The commemorations also helped to educate a new generation about the conflict and underlined the professionalism of our armed forces both then and now.

Aircraft Carriers

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Future Aircraft Carrier Programme to gain main gate approval.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 22 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1181W, to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Mr. Williams).

Armed Forces: Deployment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are stationed in  (a) Europe,  (b) Africa,  (c) the Middle East and  (d) Asia.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 5 July 2007
	 The strength of UK regular forces posted outside the UK is available in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 6—Global Location of UK regular forces. However, due to the introduction of a new Joint Personnel Administration System (JPA) the latest publication for the numbers of Naval Service and Army personnel was on 1 October 2006 and are available at:
	www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/tsp6/tsp6_oct06.pdf
	The most recent data for the Royal Air Force (RAF) (which are provisional also because of JPA) were published on l April 2006 and are available at:
	www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/tsp6/tsp6_apr06.pdf
	Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) are currently validating JPA RAF location data and expect to publish provisional RAF figures for 1 July 2006 and 1 October 2006 by the end of July 2007.
	Copies of TSP 6 are available in the Library of the House of Commons.

Armed Forces: Pay

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average employment cost was of  (a) an officer,  (b) a member of another rank,  (c) a non-industrial civil servant and  (d) an industrial civil servant in the (i) Army, (ii) Navy, (iii) Air Force and (iv) Royal Marines in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The information is not available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Personal Records

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information and statistics his Department records on Service families regarding  (a) accommodation,  (b) mobility,  (c) education,  (d) health care,  (e) dentistry,  (f) demographics,  (g) number of family members and  (h) age of family members.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally in the format requested and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Protection

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel are providing close protection for EU mission staff.

Bob Ainsworth: None.

Armed Forces: Training

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the cost of training specifically for operations is included in the costs of operations funded from the Treasury Reserve.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 9 July 2007
	The net additional cost of training specifically for operations is included in the cost of operations funded from the Treasury's Reserve.

Armed Forces: Training

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces training  (a) accidents and  (b) deaths were investigated by the Land Accident Investigation Unit between June 2006 and June 2007.

Derek Twigg: Between June 2006 and June 2007 the Land Accident Investigation Team undertook 71 investigations of incidents that occurred during training, including seven fatalities.

Armed Forces: Young People

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of new candidates to the armed forces were school leavers aged 16 and a half years in the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: During the Financial Year 2006-07 there were 58,951 applicants for armed forces employment. Of these, 14,812 were from candidates aged under 17 years of age on the date of application, representing 25.1 per cent.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Future Rapid Effect System to enter service.

Bob Ainsworth: The in-service date for the Future Rapid Effect System will not be fixed until the main investment decision has been taken. The procurement strategy is, however, designed to achieve the earliest in-service date which meets the Army's needs and offers the potential for sustained operational effectiveness.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which British companies are involved in the Future Rapid Effects System project; and in what capacity each plays a part.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 11 July 2007
	UK registered companies currently involved in the FRES programme are listed in the following table:
	
		
			  Company  Support provided 
			 Atkins Defence FRES Systems House 
			 Lockheed Martin UK INSYS Ltd. Electric Armour Technology Demonstrator Programme 
			 BAES Land Systems (Bridging) Ltd. Gap Crossing Technology Demonstrator Programme 
			 SULA Systems Ltd. Independent systems engineering 
			 BMT Sigma Planning and scheduling 
			 Fraser Nash Consulting Ltd. Independent safety advice 
			 Synthesys Systems Engineers Ltd. Independent advice on system integration issues 
			 Cap Gemini Access to a shared working environment to facilitate joint working between FRES IPT, Atkins and other key stakeholders 
			 Commerce Decisions Ltd. Provision of tender selection tool and associated consultancy support 
			 County Cabins Providing the Portacabin village at Bovington for the duration of the utility vehicle design competition 
			 General Dynamics (UK) Ltd. Utility vehicle design competition

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the Future Rapid Effect System programme; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 12 July 2007
	The acquisition strategy for future phases of the FRES programme was announced by my noble Friend Lord Drayson in November 2006. The initial wave of three competitions that will select the utility vehicle (UV) design, UV integrator, and system of systems integrator, has formally been launched and utility vehicle trials have commenced. The outcome of the trials will be announced later this year.

Army: Deployment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) lowest and  (b) average period of time between operational tours was for each army infantry battalion over the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: Three years is too short a period to produce a meaningful analysis of tour intervals as only two infantry battalions have undertaken more than two operational tours as formed units in that time. A summary of deployments over the last three years by battalion indicating tour intervals is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Ser  Army infantry battalion  Last operational deployment (as a unit)  Start date  Previous operational deployment (as a unit)  End date  Prior deployments since June 2004 (as a unit)  Last unit tour interval (months)  Lowest unit tour interval (months)  Average unit tour interval (months) 
			 1 1 Gren Gds Afghanistan May 2007 Iraq May to September 2006 Balkans (October 2004 to March 2005) 8 8 11 
			 2 1 Coldm Gds Iraq May 2005 Northern Ireland March 2000 — 61 n/a n/a 
			 3 1 SG Iraq November 2004 Northern Ireland November 2001 — 35 n/a n/a 
			 4 1 IG Iraq June 2007 Northern Ireland March 2004 — 38 n/a n/a 
			 5 1 WG Balkans October 2006 Iraq April 2005 — 17 n/a n/a 
			 6 1 Scots (1 RS)(1) Northern Ireland January 2006 Iraq April 2004 — 20 n/a n/a 
			 7 1 Scots (1 KOSB)(1) Iraq July 2003 Northern Ireland March 2002 — 15 n/a n/a 
			 8 2 Scots Iraq April 2004 Balkans October 1999 — 53 n/a n/a 
			 9 3 Scots Iraq November 2005 Balkans October 2003 — 24 n/a n/a 
			 10 4 Scots Iraq July 2004 Iraq June 2003 — 12 n/a n/a 
			 11 5 Scots Balkans April 2005 Iraq July 2004 — 8 n/a n/a 
			 12 1 PWRR Iraq May 2006 Iraq October 2004 — 18 n/a n/a 
			 13 2 PWRR Iraq January 2005 Northern Ireland December 2003 — 12 n/a n/a 
			 14 1 RRF Iraq November 2005 Iraq June 2003 — 28 n/a n/a 
			 15 2 RRF Northern Ireland April 2003 Northern Ireland June 2002 — 9 n/a n/a 
			 16 1 R Anglian Afghanistan May 2007 Iraq October 2005 — 17 n/a n/a 
			 17 2 R Anglian Iraq May 2006 Afghanistan October 2003 — 30 n/a n/a 
			 18 1 KORBR(2) Iraq November 2005 Balkans October 2000 — 60 n/a n/a 
			 19 1 Kings(2) Iraq July 2003 Prior to January 1999 — — — n/a n/a 
			 20 QLR(2) Iraq July 03 Northern Ireland September 2001 — 21 n/a n/a 
			 21 1 Lancs(2) n/a — n/a — — — — — 
			 22 2 Lancs(2) Iraq November 2006 n/a — — — — — 
			 23 1 Yorks Iraq November 2006 Balkans September 2004 — 25 n/a n/a 
			 24 2 Yorks Balkans April 2006 Afghanistan October 2004 — 17 n/a n/a 
			 25 3 Yorks Iraq November 2004 Balkans June 200I — 40 n/a n/a 
			 26 1 R Welsh Cyprus (Theatre Reserve Battalion) May 2007 Northern Ireland September to January 2006 Iraq (May to October 2004) 15 10 13 
			 27 2 R Welsh Iraq June 2007 Iraq October 2005 — 19 n/a n/a 
			 28 1 Mercian Iraq May 2004 Northern Ireland December 2002 — 16 n/a n/a 
			 29 2 Mercian Afghanistan May 2007 Afghanistan April 2005 — 23 n/a n/a 
			 30 3 Mercian Iraq November 2006 Iraq October 2005 — 12 n/a n/a 
			 31 1 Rifles (1 RGBW)(3) Afghanistan October 2005 Northern Ireland July 2003 — 26 n/a n/a 
			 32 1 Rifles (1 D&D)(3) Iraq May 2006 Northern Ireland March 2001 — 61 n/a n/a 
			 33 2 Rifles Iraq November 2006 Northern Ireland September 2004 — 25 n/a n/a 
			 34 3 Rifles Northern Ireland September 20 04 Northern Ireland May 2000 — 51 n/a n/a 
			 35 4 Rifles Iraq June 2007 Balkans October 2001 — 67 n/a n/a 
			 36 5 Rifles Iraq May 2006 Iraq April 2004 — 24 n/a n/a 
			 37 1 R Irish Iraq July 2005 Iraq June 2003 — 24 n/a n/a 
			 38 1 Para(4) Northern Ireland March 2005 Iraq June 2003 — 20 n/a n/a 
			 39 2 Para Iraq November 2005 Iraq March 2004 — 19 n/a n/a 
			 40 3 Para Afghanistan April 2006 Northern Ireland August 2004 — 19 n/a n/a 
			 41 1 RGR Balkans October 2005 Balkans March 2004 — 30 n/a n/a 
			 42 2RGR Afghanistan April 2005 Afghanistan April 2004 — 11 n/a n/a 
			 (1) 1 RS and 1 KOSB amalgamated to form 1 Scots in August 2006. 1 Scots has yet to deploy on an operation.  (2 )1 KORBR, 1 Kings and QLR amalgamated in July 2006 to form 1 Lancs and 2 Lancs. 1 Lancs has yet to deploy on an operation.  (3) 1 RGBW and 1 DDLI amalgamated in March 2007 to form 1 Rifles.  (4) As from August 2005 1 Para are no longer under the operational control of HQ Land.

Army: Manpower

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) assessed requirement and  (b) numbers of personnel in post is for each Army infantry battalion.

Bob Ainsworth: Officials are currently collating this information. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Bombs

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the standard programmes regarding the number of rockets per ripple are when CRV-7 cluster munition rockets are fired in a pre-programme ripple; and what factors influence the choice of ripple programme.

Bob Ainsworth: The Multi-Purpose Sub-Munition variant of the CRV-7 (the CRV-7 MPSM), which is only fired from the UK Apache Helicopter, does not fall within the UK's understanding of a cluster munition primarily because of its direct fire capability and also because it has too few sub-munitions. The CRV-7 MPSM is not fired using a pre-programmed ripple.

Bombs

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what body conducted the tests to establish the six per cent. failure rate for the M261 submunitions carried on CRV-7 cluster munition rockets; how many rockets and submunitions were fired in the tests; and what the  (a) ground conditions and  (b) range were.

Bob Ainsworth: The CRV-7 with its M261 multi-purpose submunition (which is only fired from the UK Apache Helicopter) does not fall within the UK's understanding of a cluster munition primarily because of its direct fire capability and also because it has too few sub-munitions.
	UK contract acceptance tests were conducted by Industry in the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. The trials involved 36 all up rounds firing a total of 315 M73 grenades (one rocket motor failed to fire). The munitions were fired at 1, 3 and 6 km. A 94 per cent. reliability target was achieved.
	The UK MOD also holds test data from further US Army trials which corroborates the 94 per cent. reliability figure achieved by UK trials.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost is of all private finance initiative projects for which his Department has responsibility completed since 1997; and what the projected cost is of such projects commissioned or under way.

Bob Ainsworth: The total costs of all private finance initiative projects are provided at HM Treasury's website, http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.cfm. Total cost information is expressed as the sum of unitary charge payments. Unitary charge payments are projections and are conditional on the performance of the private sector contractor. They frequently include inflation, service provision and major refurbishment costs as well as capital repayments.
	The information provided at HM Treasury's website provides unitary charge payment information up until 2033-34. The Department has three projects whose life exceeds 2034. These projects and the projected total unitary charge payments for each are as follows:
	
		
			  Project name  Estimated total unitary charge payment (£ million) 
			 Allenby/Connaught 12,816.76 
			 ASTUTE Class Training Service (ACTS) 551.15 
			 Colchester Garrison 2,900.56

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2007,  Official Report, column 61W, on Departments: private finance initiative, when each preferred bidder was selected.

Bob Ainsworth: The date when each preferred bidder was selected is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Project  Date preferred bidder selected 
			 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) February 2005 
			 Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) March 2005 
			 Future Provision of Marine Services (FPMS) February 2006 
			 Corsham Development Project October 2006 
			 Defence Training Review October 2006 
			 United Kingdom Military Flying Training System July 2006

Galileo Project

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2007,  Official Report, column 955W, on Galileo project, what the wider issues in relation to Galileo are on which his Department provides advice to the Department of Transport.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD provides the Department for Transport with policy advice on the security aspects of Galileo, including system security and security implications of the programme. Along with other Government Departments the MOD also provides advice on EU institutional issues. In addition, drawing on its experience of large procurement projects, the MOD can offer advice on project management, governance, PPP funding and risk management issues.

Helicopters: Spare Parts

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times each helicopter type in the  (a) Army Air Corps,  (b) Royal Navy and  (c) Royal Air Force was cannibalised in each of the past 12 months.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of cannibalisations involving aircraft operated by the Army Air Corps, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force in the Forward Fleet (with front-line commands and utilised for operational deployment or other tasks) in the last 12 months is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   2006  2007 
			   Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May 
			  Army Air Corps 
			 Apache AH 22 30 20 14 42 33 23 31 22 30 14 7 
			 A109 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Gazelle 3 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 0 2 
			 Lynx 7 and 9 15 14 44 22 21 41 26 25 26 44 21 8 
			  
			  Royal Navy 
			 Sea King 4 and 6 15 6 12 17 5 25 19 18 24 10 10 19 
			 Sea King Mk5 11 6 0 11 12 8 7 3 10 12 n/a n/a 
			 Sea King Mk7 7 7 7 12 9 5 4 7 12 10 n/a n/a 
			 Merlin Mk1 31 39 27 53 58 47 21 40 62 32 n/a n/a 
			 Lynx Mk3 11 11 3 6 7 10 5 6 12 18 n/a n/a 
			 Lynx Mk8 12 12 3 4 13 9 9 11 5 15 n/a n/a 
			  
			  RAF 
			 Chinook 2/2a 38 17 18 24 36 13 15 12 12 19 20 34 
			 Merlin Mk3 35 30 25 33 37 28 29 19 43 62 52 41 
			 Puma 12 17 9 16 34 3 6 6 8 7 5 12 
			 Search and Rescue Sea King Mk3/3A 23 20 20 12 18 21 7 11 19 12 10 n/a 
			 n/a = Figures not yet available. 
		
	
	Cannibalisation is an accepted short-term measure employed by aviation forces around the world, to ensure the maximum number of aircraft are available. It is often the only course of action where replacement items cannot be sourced in the required time frame.
	The figures shown in the table refer to individual instances of cannibalisation as opposed to the number of aircraft involved. All instances of cannibalisation are authorised and undertaken in accordance with clearly defined regulations. The term 'cannibalisation' can refer to the removal of single or small numbers of components, of any size. It does not necessarily refer to the wholesale utilisation of capital components or airframes.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 125W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what the estimated replacement costs of military equipment damaged and destroyed owing to use in Iraq has been since the start of the war in Iraq  (a) in total and  (b) for (i) tanks and other armoured vehicles, (ii) aircraft and (iii) helicopters since 1 March 2004.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 5 July 2007
	 I have nothing to add to the answer my predecessor gave on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 125W.

Military Aircraft: Spare Parts

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times a  (a) C17A Globemaster,  (b) Hercules C-130K,  (c) Hercules C-130J,  (d) Tristar,  (e) VC-10 and  (f) Nimrod MR2 has been cannibalised for spare parts.

Bob Ainsworth: The removal of serviceable parts from one aircraft for use on another is a routine and temporary measure to ensure that the maximum number of aircraft are available to the front line.
	The number of these instances over the last 12 months (June 2006-May 2007), by donor aircraft, is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Aircraft type  Number of cannibalisations 
			 C17 25 
			 C130J 781 
			 C130K 156 
			 TriStar 188 
			 VC10 116 
			 Nimrod MR2 307

Military Bases: Wales

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Special Forces Support Unit at MOD St Athan; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The UK Joint Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) is an integral part of the UK Special Forces Group and falls under the operational command of the Director of Special Forces. It is our established policy not to comment on special forces matters.
	However, I can say that since the SFSG was stood up in April 2006 it has served with distinction in the field and is already providing the UK Special Forces Group with a significantly enhanced capability as envisaged.

Navy: Defence Equipment

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) escort ships,  (b) major ships and submarines,  (c) minor war vessels and  (d) RFA ships were commissioned into the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary in each year since 2000; and how many in each category are planned to be commissioned in each of the next 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: In the last 10 years the following ships have entered service with the Royal Navy:
	
		
			  In service date  Vessel 
			 2000 1 Type 23 Frigate 
			  2 Sandown Class Mine Hunters 
			   
			 2001 1 Type 23 Frigate 
			  1 Sandown Class Mine Hunter 
			   
			 2002 1 Type 23 Frigate 
			  1 Sandown Class Mine Hunter 
			   
			 2003 1 Landing Platform Dock 
			  3 River Class Patrol Vessels 
			  2 Survey Ships 
			  2 Auxiliary Ships 
			   
			 2004 — 
			   
			 2005 1 Landing Platform Dock 
			   
			 2006 3 Auxiliary Ships 
		
	
	In-service dates for ships are only fixed when the main investment decision has been taken. Of the ships planned to enter service over the next 10 years, the following have agreed in-service dates:
	
		
			  In-service date  Vessel 
			 2007 1 Auxiliary Ship 
			  1 River Class Patrol Vessel (Helicopter) 
			   
			 2008 — 
			   
			 2009 1 Type 45 Destroyer 
			   
			 2010 1 Type 45 Destroyer 
			  1 Astute Class Nuclear Submarine 
			   
			 2011 2 Type 45 Destroyers 
			  1 Astute Class Nuclear Submarine 
			   
			 2012 1 Type 45 Destroyer 
			 2013 1 Type 45 Destroyer 
			  1 Astute Class Nuclear Submarine 
			   
			 2014 — 
			   
			 2015 1 Astute Class Nuclear Submarine

Navy: Defence Equipment

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planning assumption is for the service life of  (a) Type 23 frigates,  (b) Type 45 destroyers and  (c) future surface combatants.

Bob Ainsworth: Our current planning assumptions are that on average the Type 23 frigates will be in service for 27 years and the Type 45 anti- aircraft destroyers for 25 years. The programme for the procurement of the future surface combatant is still at an early stage and the service life for these ships has yet to be determined.

Navy: Military Bases

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his timetable is for publishing the results of the naval bases review.

Bob Ainsworth: We have said from the outset of the naval base review (NBR) that its outcome needs to be coherent with other key maritime industrial strategy projects and programmes. It is of paramount importance that we do this in order to determine an overall 'best for Defence' outcome and the best value for the taxpayer.
	The Ministry of Defence is therefore engaging with other Government Departments to assess the wider implications for the different NBR options. While this complex work is progressing well, further work is required before final conclusions can be reached.

University Officer Training Corps

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) establishment and  (b) strength of the University Officer Training Corps was at 1 March.

Derek Twigg: The total establishment of the 19 units of the University Officers Training Corps (UOTC) is 3,500 of which 2,946 are officer cadets and 554 Territorial Army staff instructors.
	As at 31 March 2007, the actual strength of the UOTCs was 5,031 of which 4,429 were from the student body including approximately 500 Army Bursars who have already passed officer selection and who are committed to join the Army; these officer cadets are on strength but are not counted against the establishment. These figures include all officer cadets who are no longer actively training, but have yet to be discharged from the Service.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow (Mr. Ingram) gave on 16 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1292W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Drugs

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) financial and  (b) other assistance was provided to the Government of Afghanistan to tackle the narcotics industry in that country in each year since 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The total financial assistance provided by the Government to the Afghan Government to tackle the narcotics industry each year since 2002 is as follows:
	
		
			  Total Afghan counter-narcotics spend 
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2002-03 23.1 
			 2003-04 31.3 
			 2004-05 33.2 
			 2005-06 92.8 
			 2006-07 82 
		
	
	Our support comprises direct financial assistance and practical support, such as developing law enforcement and criminal justice institutions, mentoring police and judges, and technical assistance to build the capacity of government institutions. Of this year's £82 million, £37.6 million will be invested in alternative legal livelihoods and development. As Afghanistan's G8 partner nation on counter-narcotics, the UK lobbies for continued and increased international assistance and support for the Afghan Government's National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS). We are also helping the Afghans to sharpen the implementation of the NDCS which has four priorities: targeting the trafficker; strengthening and diversifying legal rural livelihoods; reducing demand; and developing state institutions.

Colombia: Politics and Government

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Colombia.

Kim Howells: Colombia has suffered from 40 years of internal conflict, fuelled by the illegal drugs trade. In his five years as President, Alvaro Uribe has achieved remarkable advances: security is much improved; violent crime is hugely reduced; 35,000 paramilitaries have demobilised; and the economy is prospering.
	President Uribe's Colombia is a key UK ally in the region. UK co-operation with Colombia focuses on the fight against drugs and improving the difficult human rights situation. It is one of constructive engagement rather than uncritical support. We support the efforts of President Uribe to tackle the country's serious inter-connected problems, but we can and do remind the government of Colombia of the need to address areas of concern vigorously.
	On drugs, co-operation is close and effective. President Uribe's Government are committed to improving the difficult human rights situation. But serious concerns remain: illegal armed groups commit wide-ranging abuses, and threats to trade unionists and human rights defenders continue, and are unacceptable. Extra-judicial killings are rising. 49 per cent. of Colombians live in poverty.
	We welcomed President Uribe's decision in June to release a number of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) operatives, including Rodrigo Granda, as a positive step forward for a path to lasting peace in Colombia. It has been disappointing that the FARC have not responded positively to President Uribe's bold move. Along with EU partners and others in the international community, we have expressed our outrage at the killings in June of 11 Colombian hostages held by the FARC, and extended our condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.

Convention on Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Nations Convention on Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism entered into force; when the United Kingdom  (a) signed and  (b) ratified the convention; what responsibilities signatory states have to report on implementation of the convention in (i) member states and (ii) their overseas territories; and what steps the Government are taking to encourage non-signatory states to sign.

Kim Howells: The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism entered into force on 7 July. The UK signed the Convention on 14 September 2005. The legislation required to implement the Convention is now in place in the UK, and the Government are currently preparing the necessary documents to be laid before Parliament prior to ratification. The Convention imposes an obligation on States Parties to report to the UN Secretary-General the final outcome of criminal proceedings undertaken in respect of the offences set out in the Convention. States Parties will also be expected to report to the committees of the UN Security Council that monitor implementation of States' counter-terrorism and non-proliferation obligations, on the implementation of their obligations under the Convention in a more general sense. While the Overseas Territories will not be included at the time of the UK's ratification, there remains the possibility of extending the Convention to the Overseas Territories following consultation with them and the passing of any necessary legislation in each Territory. With our international partners, the UK has strongly encouraged all States to sign and ratify the Convention. Most recently, in a joint statement on counter-terrorism issued at the Heiligendamm Summit on 8 June, the leaders of the G8 called on all States to ratify the Convention.

Cuba: Biological Weapons

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his Cuban counterpart on Cuba's biological warfare programme.

Kim Howells: The Government keep under review the potential military capability of other states, but it is not our practice to divulge the details including relevant discussions with other states.

Departments: Internet

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to publish a record of his activities on the Department's website; what estimate he has made of the  (a) cost and  (b) staff time involved; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's key activities are published on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website on a regular basis. Costs for this are covered as part of the general maintenance of the FCO website; a specific breakdown of which is not available as it would incur disproportionate cost to obtain this information. There are also plans to publish a blog on the same website.

Departments: Publicity

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of advertising commissioned by his Department in the last 12 months.

Jim Murphy: In 2006, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) conducted a review of recruitment procedures, which identified the most effective advertising media. At the end of each recruitment competition, information from applicants is assessed to determine the performance of each advertising medium and determine the most appropriate publications for advertisements.
	The FCO makes use of cost savings offered by the Central Office of Information.
	In accordance with Cabinet Office and Civil Service Commissioners' guidance, the FCO is moving towards placing the majority of job adverts online, although there will still be a need for press advertisements as not all the potential candidate pool will have access to the internet.

Departments: Racial Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which his Department is responsible have been  (a) investigated and  (b) upheld in the last 12 months.

Jim Murphy: Informal complaints of any sort are dealt with through the line manager in the first instance and central figures are not held for those. Only if the issue cannot be resolved through the informal route are they logged centrally and dealt with as part of the formal grievance process.
	There have been no formal complaints by Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff of racial abuse in the last 12 months.

Electronic Warfare

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on cyber-warfare.

Jim Murphy: This issue has not been raised by NATO Foreign Ministers, but it was discussed by NATO Defence Ministers at their meeting on 14-15 June, who agreed to work to enhance the ability to protect infrastructure systems of critical importance to the Alliance from cyber-attacks. Cyber-defence is also the subject of discussion at official level in NATO.

Entry Clearances

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance is given to embassies and consulates on dealing with requests from people wishing to enter the UK.

Kim Howells: All guidance given to embassies and consulates on dealing with applications from people wishing to enter the UK is published on the following websites:
	http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandpolicy/immigrationrules/.
	http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1034241195847.
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/ECBPMarch07.pdf.
	The best practice guidance is currently under review and will be published through the same channels in due course.

EU Reform: Treaties

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Portuguese counterpart on the EU constitutional treaty.

Jim Murphy: The treaty establishing a constitution for Europe, on which the Government proposed a referendum, is now defunct. The mandate for a reform treaty agreed by the European Council states clearly:
	"The constitutional concept, which consisted in repealing all existing Treaties and replacing them by a single text called "Constitution", is abandoned".
	As my right hon. Friend the then Prime Minister (Mr. Blair) set out in his statement to Parliament on 25 June, the reform treaty will differ fundamentally from the constitutional treaty in its substance.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has discussed a range of issues with his Portuguese counterpart, Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado, including EU institutional issues.

Indonesia: Terrorism

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on counter-terrorism operations in Indonesia.

Kim Howells: We have regular discussions with international partners who share our commitment to countering the terrorist threat in Indonesia. I visited Indonesia in March this year and had the opportunity to discuss these issues with Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda and Indonesian National Police Chief Sutanto.

Internet: Censorship

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he and Ministers in his Department have had with the EU on internet censorship; and what was discussed.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 10 July 2007
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers have not, to date, had any EU meetings on internet censorship.
	We are aware of the European Commission's plans to publish a proposal, in the autumn, to make it a criminal offence to place bomb-making instructions on the internet. A conference was held by the European Commission in March to discuss these proposals, at which officials from the Home Office and the FCO participated.

Israel

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to Arab Governments to secure an end to attacks on Israel; what response has been received; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The UK holds regular discussions with Arab Governments on ways to reduce violence in the Middle East, including attacks against Israel. These are often focused on efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), including those aimed at preventing attacks on Israel. In May we lobbied a number of regional Governments, drawing their attention to the provisions of UNSCR 1747 and seeking their support in implementing the provisions more effectively. Among other things, this resolution imposed a legally binding embargo on the export/transfer of all arms from Iran, including to Hezbollah and Palestinian rejectionist groups. We also regularly raise the implementation of UNSCR 1701, which brought an end to the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. We enjoy the support of many Arab partners in our efforts to implement relevant UN Resolutions.

Pakistan: Human Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Pakistani authorities on the treatment of lawyers and the families of lawyers who defend those accused of apostacy, with particular reference to the Lahore area; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have not made any representations to the Pakistani authorities about the treatment of defence lawyers. We do receive regular updates from legal aid groups in Pakistan, including in Lahore, on the progress of their cases and the difficulties faced by the lawyers representing those accused.
	In our latest representation to the Pakistani authorities in June, together with the EU, we raised our concerns about the proposed Apostasy Bill. The UK strongly supports freedom of religion and condemns instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith or belief, wherever this occurs and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned.

Pakistan: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Pakistani Government on the conflict at the Red Mosque in Islamabad.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the crisis in the Red Mosque in Islamabad with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Kasuri on 4 July. Officials from our high commission in Islamabad have also had regular discussions with the Ministry of Interior, the National Crisis Management Cell and the police forces, to be briefed on the situation.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has put in place to ensure that there is a Darfur-Darfur dialogue in place before the forthcoming peace talks in Mombasa.

Meg Munn: The peace talks in Mombasa are intended to bring together factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) to agree a common position on the Darfur political process. Not all factions have agreed to attend the Mombasa meeting.
	The Sudan People's Liberation Movement has scheduled a meeting of all the rebel groups, including the SLM, and Darfuri civil society to take place in south Sudan in August. This will build on the Darfur-Darfur dialogue.
	We, and our partners, are pressing all sides to commit to this renewed political process and to implement their commitments to the international community.

Venezuala: Oil

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on Venezuela's oil supply offer to Iran.

Kim Howells: On his recent visit to Iran, President Chavez signed a large number of co-operation agreements with the Iranian Government, including a number in relation to oil exploration and petrochemical production. It appears that the two Governments are now working on the exact detail of those agreements.
	Our embassies in Caracas and Tehran will continue to monitor what emerges from this partnership.

Zimbabwe: Conferences

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has sought clarification of the policy of the Government of Portugal on whether to invite Robert Mugabe and other representatives of the Government of Zimbabwe to attend the EU-Africa summit in Portugal in December 2007.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Prime Minister Socrates of Portugal on 9 July and discussed the EU-Africa summit. They agreed that a diplomatic solution was needed regarding the matter of Zimbabwean representation.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Departments: Public Transport

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what incentives she has considered to encourage staff to use public transport.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	The main incentive the Department offers are interest-free loans for season tickets for travel to work. Use of public transport is encouraged by departmental policies including limited car parking, flexible working, using public transport during the course of travel and making use of travel websites and information services, such as Transport Direct. Staff are also informed about local transport initiatives and promotions. Where the location or nature of the work makes public transport use impractical for staff, car sharing is encouraged.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Committee on Standards in Public Life

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future role of  (a) the Committee on Standards in Public Life and  (b) the Business Appointments Committee.

Edward Miliband: Both the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments continue to play important roles in upholding standards in public life. The Ministerial Code published on 3 July strengthened the provisions relating to business appointments, making clear that Ministers must seek the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and that they will be expected to abide by its advice. The Committee on Standards in Public Life is currently in discussion with Government about its forward programme of work.

Contracts for Services: Religion

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate how many faith-based organisations  (a) received grants and  (b) were contracted to deliver (i) local authority and (ii) central Government services in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: This information is not held centrally. The Government recognise the role which faith-based organisations play in delivering public services through grants and contracts with central and local government. The Government want to ensure that the range of community-based organisations, including faith-based groups, can access the support available to perform their multiple roles of providing voice to citizens and in building communities. The Office of the Third Sector's Strategic Partners programme includes funding to some faith-based organisations to enable them to provide representative 'voice' for the third sector, or an element of third sector activity, at national level, including on public service delivery issues.
	The Third Sector Review, conducted jointly by HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office, as part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review, looking at the future role of the third sector in economic and social regeneration, held targeted events for faith groups as part of its consultation process in 2006. The review also received written representation from faith groups. The Government will seek to ensure continued dialogue with these and other groups and that all of the measures in the Third Sector Review, including the £80 million small grants fund announced in the Budget, will be as accessible as possible to a wide range of organisations.

Departments: Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people in the former Deputy Prime Minister's Department were  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for (i) inappropriate use of the internet while at work and (ii) using work telephones to access premium rate telephone numbers in the last 12 months.

Edward Miliband: None.

Departments: Freedom of Information

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the requests made to the Cabinet Office under the  (a) Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000 and  (b) Environmental Information Regulations in the last six months; and what the (i) FOI case reference number, (ii) request summary, (iii) request outcome and (iv) where appropriate, reason for exemption was in each case.

Edward Miliband: Information relating to Freedom of Information and Environmental Information requests is published on a quarterly basis by the Ministry of Justice. Information for January—March 2007 was published on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 10WS. Copies of the document are in the Libraries of the House. Information for April—June 2007 is due to be published in the autumn.

Government: Standards

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what overarching studies he plans to undertake as part of his responsibility to make Government work better.

Edward Miliband: The Prime Minister has already taken several steps to make Government work better. The Prime Minister announced Machinery of Government changes on 27 June, creating the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. On 3 July the Prime Minister announced a series of constitutional reform measures in the Green Paper entitled "The Governance of Britain". On 12 June the Cabinet Secretary also announced changes to structures within the Cabinet Office designed to strengthen policy, strategy and co-ordination at the centre of Government.
	The Cabinet Office has an overarching purpose of making Government work better. As Minister for the Cabinet Office, I and the Prime Minister will keep this under review, and I will provide the Prime Minister with advice as I see fit.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Standards

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to issue a revised version of the Special Advisers' Code.

Edward Miliband: A revised version of the Model Contract for Special Advisers, incorporating the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, will be published in due course.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Manpower

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how the  (a) officials and  (b) budget of the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are deployed.

Edward Miliband: The Deputy Prime Minister's Office has been disbanded and its residual responsibilities and its functions have been transferred to the Cabinet Office.

Olympic Games: Greater London

John Whittingdale: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many complaints have been received concerning possible breaches of the regulation protecting the use of the Olympic symbol, motto and other words relating to the Olympics; and how many prosecutions have been initiated for breaches of the regulations protecting the use of the Olympic symbol, motto and other words relating to the Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: Prosecutions and actions for infringement are initiated by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) and other bodies. To date, no prosecutions or actions for infringement have resulted in any judgments of the court in favour of or against LOCOG. LOCOG has written "cease and desist" letters to a number of organisations to remind them of the provisions in place under the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006 and the Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 which provides protection for the Olympic symbol and other words and representations relating to the Olympics, Paralympics and London 2012.
	The Government Olympic Executive (GOE) within DCMS has also had informal exchanges with a number of organisations to give them information about the provisions.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans she has to visit the National Sports Academy at Lilleshall in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: I will be pursuing a programme of visits to the English regions and Devolved Administrations and plan to include Lilleshall in that programme.

Social Exclusion Unit: Pilot Schemes

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2007, Official Report, column 1673W, on the social exclusion unit: pilot schemes, what pilot projects were  (a) initiated and  (b) supported by the social exclusion unit and the social exclusion task force prior to the publication of the Reaching Out action plan; and which of those since have been implemented on a national basis.

Edward Miliband: Prior to the publication of the social exclusion task force (SETF) report 'Reaching Out: An Action Plan on Social Exclusion', the social exclusion unit (SEU) produced over 40 reports. Many of these refer to piloting new approaches which have been initiated and taken forward by various Government Departments, local authorities and the voluntary and community sector. Important SEU documents include reports on rough sleeping, neighbourhood renewal and teenage pregnancy.
	The SETF supports the piloting and testing of new approaches which may help tackle social exclusion either on a local or national scale. We recognise the need for good evaluation of pilot programmes so that findings and best practice can be disseminated and implemented.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

British Film Institute: Archives

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the future of the British Film Institute and its role in conserving archive material.

Margaret Hodge: The British Film Institute (BFI) has a unique role in providing education and promoting knowledge and understanding of film. BFI also leads on the conservation of film and TV in the UK. In response to the challenges and opportunities faced by the moving image archive sector, the BFI, in partnership with the UK Film Council and film agencies across the UK, has developed a strategy to secure the UK's screen heritage and increase access to it. This strategy is currently undergoing consultation.

Departmental Studies

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1360W, on departmental studies, when he intends to place the rest of the requested documents in the Library.

Margaret Hodge: The following studies have been published and can now be placed in the Library:
	Economic Impact of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Cultural Investment (renamed "A Framework for Evaluating Cultural Policy").
	Assessing the Readiness of the Social Housing Sector for Digital Switchover.
	Governance of Non-Departmental Government Bodies.
	The following studies are not yet complete but will be placed in the Library on completion:
	Casino Impacts Scoping Study.
	Sport's Contribution to Achieving Wider Social Benefits.
	Measuring Elasticity of Tourism Demand.
	International Dimension of the Creative Economy.
	Exploring Creative Industry Spillovers.
	Museums Indicators Revisions (renamed "Review of Performance Indicator Framework for National Museums and Galleries").
	Review of Evidence Base for Delivering SP2/ PSA3 (renamed "Culture on Demand").

Departments: Crime

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criminal offences have been created by primary legislation sponsored by his Department since October 2006.

Margaret Hodge: Section 3 of the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007 creates two new criminal offences. The offences relate to the Digital Switchover Help Scheme and make it an offence to disclose information supplied under the Act without lawful authority. The offence under section 3(1) makes it an offence for a "relevant person" to make such a disclosure and the offence under section 3(2) makes it an offence for a range of persons connected with the relevant person to make such a disclosure.

Departments: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2007,  Official Report, column 90W, on Departments: non-departmental public bodies, what the  (a) capital costs and  (b) revenue operating costs were of each of the non-departmental public bodies for which her Department is responsible in each of the last five years; and what change this represented in each case from the previous year.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is drawn from the Department's records and is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Operating grant allocated to DCMS non-departmental public bodies 
			  £000 
			   Revenue costs 
			   Final outturn  Provisional outturn  Plans 
			  Body  2003-04  +/-  2004-05  +/-  2005-06  +/-  2006-07  +/-  2007-08 
			 British Museum 31,304 -7,874 23,430 13,130 36,560 3,028 39,588 1,985 41,573 
			 Natural History Museum 29,618 991 30,609 8,944 39,553 -1,811 37,742 4,173 41,915 
			 Imperial War Museum 13,544 7,403 20,947 -761 20,186 -3,430 16,756 2,171 18,927 
			 National Gallery 11,606 -5,442 6,164 11,495 17,659 -2,281 15,378 6,938 22,316 
			 National Maritime Museum 13,912 162 14,074 319 14,393 864 15,257 154 15,411 
			 National Museums Liverpool 14,565 2,452 17,017 -1,302 15,715 3,688 19,403 -427 18,976 
			 National Portrait Gallery 5,278 -393 4,885 560 5,445 -113 5,332 1,536 6,868 
			 National Museum of Science and Industry 33,355 792 34,147 -1,349 32,798 -576 32,222 2,012 34,234 
			 National Coal Mining Museum of England 2,410 260 2,670 -244 2,426 102 2,528 131 2,659 
			 Tate Gallery 27,124 -3,231 23,893 931 24,824 2,630 27,454 4,225 31,679 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum 28,197 -2,789 25,408 3,105 28,513 3,257 31,770 7,500 39,270 
			 Wallace Collection 1,861 842 2,703 -443 2,260 222 2,482 174 2,656 
			 Museum of Science and Industry Manchester 3,099 310 3,409 -839 2,570 1,139 3,709 62 3,771 
			 Museum of London 6,274 232 6,506 -174 6,332 -375 5,957 1,252 7,209 
			 Sir John Soane's Museum 2199 -1,405 794 -4 790 364 1,154 -82 1,072 
			 Horniman Museum 3281 228 3,509 23 3,532 200 3,732 218 3,950 
			 Geffrye Museum 1,256 95 1,351 -20 1,331 63 1,394 162 1,556 
			 Royal Armouries 5,775 486 6,261 -894 5,367 1,297 6,664 748 7,412 
			 National Football Museum 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 
			 People's History Museum 150 0 150 0 150 6 156 8 164 
			 Tyne and Wear Museums 1,100 100 1,200 10 1,210 651 1,861 465 2,326 
			 Design Museum 200 68 268 72 340 143 483 -80 403 
			 British Library(1) 397,936 -316,922 81,014 1,463 82,477 -9,761 72,716 19,623 92,339 
			 Public Lending Right 7,292 149 7,441 -68 7,373 318 7,691 -9 7,682 
			 Museums Libraries and Archives Council 13,547 -227 13,320 89 13,409 1,333 14,742 -271 14,471 
			 Arts Council of England 325,873 38,957 364,830 31,843 396,673 -373 396,300 20,655 416,955 
			 Football Licensing Authority 2,035 -936 1,099 32 1,131 19 1,150 111 1,261 
			 UK Sports Council 23,578 1 23,579 5,153 28,732 22,852 51,584 11,387 62,971 
			 Sport England 30,748 40,227 70,975 10,104 81,079 -23,489 57,590 22,073 79,663 
			 Royal Household 17,157 -1,600 15,557 650 16,207 -100 16,107 0 16,107 
			 English Heritage(1) 313,986 -193,709 120,277 4,150 124,427 2,561 126,988 -3,252 123,736 
			 National Heritage Memorial Fund 5,000 0 5,000 2 5,002 -6,940 -1,938 1,938 0 
			 Churches Conservation Trust 3,000 0 3,000 626 3,626 -122 3,504 -442 3,062 
			 Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment 2,979 858 3,837 645 4,482 -793 3,689 1,001 4,690 
			 Visit Britain 48,758 -945 47,813 845 48,658 83 48,741 859 49,600 
			 UK Film Council 18,733 3,917 22,650 -1,959 20,691 3,337 24,028 -1,668 22,360 
			 The National Film and Television School 2,600 0 2,600 100 2,700 0 2,700 0 2,700 
			 National Lottery Commission -99 1,600 1,501 7,372 8,873 -555 8,318 5,683 14,001 
			 Spaces for Sport and Arts 0 0 0 — — — — — — 
			 Gaming Board for Great Britain/Gambling Commission 2,342 1,362 3,704 5,762 9,466 4,548 14,014 -9,794 4,220 
			 (1) 2003-04 transferring pensions costs. 
		
	
	
		
			  Capital costs 
			  £000 
			   Final outturn  Provisional outturn  Plans 
			  Body  2003-04  +/-  2004-05  +/-  2005-06  +/-  2006-07  +/-  2007-08 
			 British Museum 5,058 2,729 7,787 -3,039 4,748 878 5,626 -2,376 3,250 
			 Natural History Museum 5,812 1,952 7,764 -13,283 -5,519 12,271 6,752 -3,502 3,250 
			 Imperial War Museum 300 3,174 3,474 -3,474 0 1,434 1,434 1,816 3,250 
			 National Gallery 6,973 -3,324 3,649 -725 2,924 -1,092 1,832 1,418 3,250 
			 National Maritime Museum 1,030 1,222 2,252 -1,308 944 1,517 2,461 539 3,000 
			 National Museums Liverpool 1,865 -732 1,133 1,790 2,923 -523 2,400 450 2,850 
			 National Portrait Gallery 666 -288 378 -162 216 963 1,179 -1,009 170 
			 National Museum of Science and Industry 123 7,662 7,785 -7,930 -145 1,603 1,458 2,792 4,250 
			 National Coal Mining Museum of England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Tate Gallery -28 5,823 5,795 -1,228 4,567 -216 4,351 -101 4,250 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum 4,215 3,086 7,301 -5,884 1,417 -297 1,120 2,130 3,250 
			 Wallace Collection 711 -581 130 449 579 550 1,129 371 1,500 
			 Museum of Science and Industry Manchester 200 -200 0 300 300 50 350 50 400 
			 Museum of London 300 -300 0 0 0 1,095 1,095 505 1,600 
			 Sir John Soane's Museum 350 -350 0 325 325 -255 70 -70 0 
			 Horniman Museum 0 0 0 150 150 50 200 200 400 
			 Geffrye Museum 0 1,616 1,616 -1,516 100 462 562 -162 400 
			 Royal Armouries 407 -407 0 1,993 1,993 -1,371 622 278 900 
			 National Football Museum 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 People's History Museum 150 -150 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Tyne and Wear Museums 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,000 1,000 
			 Design Museum 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 
			 British Library 1,826 10,614 12,440 -2,588 9,852 25,588 35,440 -23,368 12,072 
			 Public Lending Right 0 19 19 3 22 -2 20 -20 0 
			 Museums Libraries and Archives Council 72 8 80 53 133 -82 51 -1 50 
			 Arts Council of England 2,656 -1,610 1,046 4,647 5,693 29,857 35,550 -34,550 1,000 
			 Football Licensing Authority 51 -33 18 -17 1 6 7 -7 0 
			 UK Sports Council 155 267 422 117 539 -307 232 -198 34 
			 Sport England 2,385 596 2,981 -2,393 588 41,666 42,254 -5,954 36,300 
			 Royal Household 0 0 0 0 0 314 314 15,793 16,107 
			 English Heritage 2,166 368 2,534 6,671 9,205 1,114 10,319 -919 9,400 
			 National Heritage Memorial Fund 0 0 0 0 0 5,000 5,000 5,002 10,002 
			 Churches Conservation Trust 0 0 0 25 25 -18 7 -7 0 
			 Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment 0 0 0 1,538 1,538 -1,524 14 -14 0 
			 Visit Britain 386 136 522 -224 298 9 307 -7 300 
			 UK Film Council 1,750 -1,552 198 2,155 2,353 1,691 4,044 -2,294 1,750 
			 The National Film and Television School 200 -200 0 200 200 0 200 0 200 
			 National Lottery Commission 0 171 171 -104 67 58 125 -125 0 
			 Spaces for Sport and Arts 40,850 -40,850 0 — — — — — — 
			 Gaming Board for Great Britain/Gambling Commission 25 -16 9 564 573 3,160 3,733 -3,733 0

Films: Violence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the change in the level of violence portrayed in films, particularly of torture, in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: None. Under the terms of the Video Recordings Act, I have designated the president and vice presidents of the British Board of Film Classification as the authority responsible for considering content and classifying videos. They also consider cinema films on behalf of local authorities. The Board addresses the nature and degree of violence through the classification system.

Gun Sports: Olympic Games

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress is being made in discussions with the Home Department on Olympic target pistol shooters; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following discussions between officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Home Office, a proposal has been put forward to Ministers at the Home Office and a decision remains pending.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1178W, on the Olympic Games, in what form the ongoing advice provided by KPMG on the cost of the Olympics was received.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply 
	as Minister for the Olympics.
	KPMG provided advice under contract as part of a team within the then Interim Olympic Delivery Authority and later the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1783W, on Olympic Games: Greater London, in what ways the advice remains pertinent to the formulation of Government policy.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply 
	as Minister for the Olympics.
	The advice provided by KPMG is being used to inform our ongoing strategy for managing the Olympic project and costs which will be kept under close scrutiny throughout.

Royal Opera House: Directors

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what mechanisms are in place to monitor the fulfilment by the chief executive of his contractual obligations as full-time chief executive of the Royal Opera House (ROH); and whether the contract requires that the ROH is informed of the hours spent by the chief executive in employment outside the ROH.

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for the chair and board of the Royal Opera House.

Sports: Finance

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public funding has been made available for sports clubs and facilities in Ribble Valley; and what proportion of these funds is earmarked for Paralympic sports.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England has allocated £3.6 million to a wide range of community sports projects in the Ribble Valley. This funding has attracted an additional £3.1 million of inward investment into sport.
	The Ribble Valley sports projects are designed for use by everyone in the community and, as such, no fixed proportion of the Sport England funding has been earmarked specifically for Paralympic sports.
	The projects do, however, cover a number of different sports, including rugby, athletics, tennis and sailing, that are included in the lists of both Olympic and Paralympic sports for 2012.

Sports: Governing Bodies

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the sport national governing bodies attending the Labour Party fundraiser at Wembley on 12 July.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DCMS does not hold the information requested.

Sportsgrounds: Seating

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to change the regulations to allow safe standing at football grounds; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We currently have no plans to amend the policy of requiring grounds in the top two divisions in England to be all-seater.

Sportsgrounds: Seating

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to meet the Football Supporters' Federation to discuss its report on safe standing at football grounds; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DCMS has met and is in regular contact with the Football Supporters' Federation but we have no plans to meet the FSF to discuss their report.
	It is Government's view that all-seater stadiums, along with effective stewarding and policing, is the most effective way to ensure spectator safety in the top two English divisions.

Tickets: Touting

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to extend the existing protection from ticket touts to other sports; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The restriction on sale of tickets for the 2012 London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is a requirement of the International Olympic Committee. Sales of tickets for football matches are regulated to maintain the segregation of fans for reasons of public disorder. The Department is not planning to extend these measures or propose new legislation at this stage, but will consider a case for events of national significance and the future recommendations arising from the recent Select Committee inquiry.

Tourists: Expenditure

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by  (a) domestic and  (b) foreign tourists in England in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The tables show expenditure on visits to England by  (a) UK residents where this included an overnight stay and  (b) overseas residents.
	
		
			  Expenditure by UK residents on overnight visits in England 
			   Current prices (£ million) 
			 1997 17.3 
			 1998 16.4 
			 1999 19.1 
			 2000 19.9 
			 2001 20.3 
			 2002 20.8 
			 2003 20.6 
			 2004 19.0 
			 2005 17.5 
			 2006 16.2 
			 (1) The methodology for the UKTS changed in 2005 meaning that comparisons with previous years should be treated with caution. This change occurred due to concerns with the quality of 2004 data, which are thought to be an under-representation of the true position. There was also a change in survey methodology in 2000, though figures for 1997-99 have been reworked to allow comparisons with later data.   Source:  UK Tourism Survey (National Tourist Boards)(1) 
		
	
	
		
			  Expenditure by overseas residents during visits to England 
			   Current prices (£ million) 
			 1997 10.0 
			 1998 10.5 
			 1999 11.0 
			 2000 11.4 
			 2001 9.9 
			 2002 10.3 
			 2003 10.4 
			 2004 11.3 
			 2005 12.3 
			 2006 (provisional) 13.2 
			  Source:  International Passenger Survey (ONS) 
		
	
	In addition, a substantial number of day visits are made to, or within, England. In 2005 an estimated £37 billion was spent on tourism day visits in England by English residents. It is not possible to provide a time series for this information as the surveys are run intermittently.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service: Finance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if his Department will provide funding for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to enable dispute resolution services to be made available to parties in employment disputes at an earlier stage.

Patrick McFadden: The Government's proposals for the way forward on all aspects of dispute resolution, including the provision of ACAS conciliation services in the early stages of disputes, will be published in due course.

Conditions of Employment: Parents

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which business leaders he and the former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry have met in the last 12 months to discuss family-friendly working practices.

Patrick McFadden: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State and other Ministers regularly discuss aspects of family-friendly working practices and legislation with business leaders, both in formal meetings and in the margins of other discussions.

Departments: Public Expenditure

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will provide the revised budget for his newly-formed Department for 2007-08, broken down by main budget heading.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 4 July 2007
	The revised budget for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform will be set out in the Winter Supplementary Estimate.

Departments: Public Transport

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what incentives he has considered to encourage staff in his Department to use public transport.

Gareth Thomas: The main incentive the Department offers are interest-free loans for season tickets for travel to work. Use of public transport is encouraged by Departmental policies including limited car parking, flexible working, encouraging use of public transport during the course of business travel and making use of travel websites.

Disciplinary Proceedings: Regulation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if his Department will bring forward proposals to simplify the rules governing employment disciplinary procedures.

Patrick McFadden: My Department has recently consulted on simplifying employment dispute resolution, and will publish its proposals in due course.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what percentage of distributors of electrical and electronic equipment are members of a distributor take-back scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: Over 2,500 retailers have joined the distributor take-back scheme accounting for more than 75 per cent. of EEE retailing by sales.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what percentage of distributors of electrical and electronic equipment have initiated a take-back yourself scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: All retailers of electrical and electronic equipment are obliged to offer in-store take-back if they are not a member of the distributor take-back scheme. Over 2,500 distributors have joined the DTS representing around 75 per cent. of electrical and electronic equipment sales.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what guidance his Department provided on the waste electrical and electronic equipment regulations to distributors of electrical and electronic equipment before 1 July; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that guidance.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department published a distributor factsheet and non-statutory guidance on the UK WEEE regulations in February 2007. Further guidance on the role of distributors was issued in April to explain how distributors can fulfil their obligations under the WEEE system. We will continue to update the guidance in light of experience by distributors, who have not raised any significant concerns over the guidance as it stands.

Google: Doubleclick

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he has had discussions with  (a) the Information Commissioner on the issues of privacy and data protection in the context of Google's proposed acquisition of Doubleclick and  (b) the Office of Fair Trading on monitoring of the online marketplace and its effect on consumers, innovation and prices; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I have had no such discussions; either with the Information Commissioner or the Office of Fair Trading. Privacy and data protection are matters for the Ministry of Justice. The regulatory control of mergers is a matter for the independent competition authorities with cases considered on the grounds of impact on competition in the relevant market.
	The Office of Fair Trading has recently completed a study on internet shopping. Their report available at http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/market-studies/internet concludes that the rapid growth of internet shopping is a success story that benefits both consumers and businesses across a range of markets, but that both could do more to make the most of opportunities it provides.

Government Shareholding

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 1283-84W, on Government Shareholding, what the nature and status is of the special shares held by his Department in  (a) Rolls Royce plc and  (b) British Aerospace plc.

Stephen Timms: The information is as follows.
	 (a) The Solicitor for the Affairs of Her Majesty's Treasury, as nominee for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, holds the Government's special share in Rolls Royce Group plc, going back to when the Company was privatised in 1987.
	The purpose of the Rolls Royce special share, which has a nominal value of £1, is to protect the UK's national security interests. These include security of supply issues associated with its nuclear business (nuclear propulsion for Royal Navy submarines) and for other defence equipment (mainly aero-engine and ship propulsion). The provisions of the special share are tailored as narrowly as possible and kept under review.
	Key features of the Rolls-Royce special share are:
	A 15 per cent. limit on the percentage of foreign shares in Rolls Royce Group plc (the holding company) that can be held by a single foreign shareholder, or foreign shareholders acting in concert. (A foreign shareholder includes an EU national.)
	A requirement that the chief executive and the majority of directors of Rolls Royce Group plc (the holding company) are British.
	A requirement that disposals of the whole or a material part of the nuclear business, or the group as a whole, require the consent of the Special Shareholder.
	 (b) The Solicitor for the Affairs of Her Majesty's Treasury, as nominee for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, holds the Government's special share in BAE Systems plc (then known as British Aerospace plc). The purpose of the special share, created in 1985, and which has a nominal value of £1, is to protect the UK's national security interests. The provisions of the special share are tailored as narrowly as possible and kept under review.
	Key features of the BAE Systems' special share are:
	A 15 per cent. limit on the percentage of shares that can be held by any individual foreign shareholder, or group of foreign shareholders acting in concert, in the company; (A foreign shareholder includes an EU national.)
	A requirement that the chief executive and the majority of the board are British;
	A requirement that any executive chairman is to be British and, if both the chairman and the deputy chairman are non-executives, that at least one of them is British.

Heating: Carbon Emissions

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the low carbon potential of electric heating is realised.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2007
	The Government are committed to addressing both the causes and consequences of climate change. As announced in the Energy White Paper we are considering a number of policy options to reduce the carbon impact of heat, including electric heating from low carbon sources, and its use in order to determine a strategy for heat.

Industrial Disputes: Mediation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the merits of making mediation a compulsory step in employment disputes.

Stephen Timms: The Government are currently developing their plans for the way forward on the resolution of employment disputes including the role of mediation, in the light of Michael Gibbons' review and the Government consultation "Resolving Disputes in the Workplace". These plans will be published in due course.

Iran: Export Credit Guarantees

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2007,  Official Report, column 621W, on Iran: export credit guarantees, whether his Department has received information from other European countries to the effect that they have limited the provision of export credit guarantees to Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: ECGD receives information about the cover policies operated by other Export Credit Agencies (EGAs) in various international and bilateral fora but this is made known on a confidential basis. However, some EGAs post their current cover policies on individual countries on their public websites. Each EGA is responsible for taking its own decisions on cover policy for individual countries, taking account of its own risk assessments and any international arrangements and/or agreements that exist which may inform what the policy should be.

Maternity Leave

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of mothers eligible for maternity leave have taken maternity leave in the last 12 months; and what the average length of maternity leave was.

Patrick McFadden: The most recent estimates are based on the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Benefits in Britain: Survey of Parents, conducted in 2005. The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby in December 2003 and their partners. Of mothers in paid work, all took at least some of their entitlement to maternity leave, and 98 per cent. received some form of maternity pay; approximately 2 per cent. of mothers in paid work did not receive maternity pay. The survey found that the average length of maternity leave taken was six months.

Minimum Wage: Personal Income

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of people in  (a) the UK,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) Tamworth whose income rose on the introduction of the minimum wage.

Patrick McFadden: The Department estimates that around 1 million people in the UK stand to benefit from the 2007 uprating of the national minimum wage in October, 110,000 of whom are in the West Midlands. Data at the parliamentary constituency level are not available.

Parental Leave: Industrial Disputes

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department holds figures on the number of employment disputes with  (a) paternity leave and  (b) maternity leave as a primary cause of action; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: During the year 2005-06, 155 employment tribunal claims related to a person claiming to suffer a detriment and/or dismissal due to requesting or taking paternity or adoption leave or time off to assist a dependant.
	During the same year there were 1,501 employment tribunal claims made related to a person claiming to suffer a detriment and/or dismissal on grounds of pregnancy, childbirth or maternity.

Parental Leave: Low Incomes

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate his Department has made of the number of people from low income families taking  (a) paternity leave and  (b) maternity leave in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity and paternity leave are based on the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Benefits in Britain: Survey of Parents, conducted in 2005. The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby in December 2003 and their partners. Of mothers in paid work, all took at least some of their entitlement to maternity leave. 93 per cent. of fathers took some time off around the time of the birth. Of the 93 per cent. who took some time off, 79 per cent. took paternity leave.
	The Department does not collect data on low income families so has not estimated the number of low income families which have taken up paternity or maternity leave.

Paternity Leave

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of fathers eligible for paternity leave have taken paternity leave in the last 12 months; and what the average length of paternity leave was.

Patrick McFadden: The most recent data available on take-up of paternity leave are from the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Benefits: Survey of Parents 2005. The report of findings is available at the House of Commons Library and at www.berr.gov.uk/files/file27446.pdf. Statistics in this report are based on responses from a sample of mothers and fathers who had a child in December 2003 who were surveyed approximately 17 months after the child's birth.
	The survey found that 93 per cent. of fathers took some time off around the time of the birth. Of the 93 per cent. who took some time off, 79 per cent. took paternity leave and the average duration was 9.3 days. Table 9.1 in the cited report provides further information.

Post Offices: WH Smith

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many representations Post Office Ltd. received in response to the consultation on moving the Carlisle Crown Post Office to W.H. Smith; and how many of the responses raised problems about access.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook the Managing Director has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Telecommunications

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of households and businesses with a telephone connection provided using a line concentrator or other line sharing device due to shortages of line capacity; what steps he is taking to reduce the number of such households; and what discussions he has had with telecommunications companies on this issue.

Stephen Timms: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Tidal Power: Severn Estuary

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans his Department has to commission an independent strategic evaluation of all the options for exploiting tidal power in the Severn estuary; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 9 July 2007
	A study of 'Tidal Power in the UK' currently under way and led by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) working together with my Department, Welsh Assembly Government, the devolved Administrations and the South West Regional Development Agency is looking in some detail at the issues arising on tidal power.
	The study will provide a strategic, independent and evidence-based consideration of all the environmental, social and economic aspects of and options for tidal power both in the Severn estuary and the wider UK from a sustainable development perspective.
	The final report is expected to be published in September and will help inform any future consideration of these issues. Further details of the study can be seen at
	www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/tidal/htm1.

Unfair Dismissal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if his Department will undertake an assessment of the law of procedural unfairness in unfair dismissal employment disputes.

Patrick McFadden: The consultation "Resolving Disputes in the Workplace" covered this area, and in light of early responses the Government issued a supplementary review on procedural unfairness in unfair dismissal. The conclusions of this review and the Government's plans for the way forward will be published, alongside those for the main consultation, in due course.

Warwick Manufacturing Group

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 136W, on the Warwick Manufacturing Group, whether the payments were intended to fund in whole or part the Warwick Manufacturing Group.

Stephen Timms: The payments detailed in the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 136W, were made in respect of specific services provided by Warwick University, of which the Warwick Manufacturing Group is part, on projects designed to improve the performance of UK industry.

Warwick Manufacturing Group

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the Government provide financial support to the Warwick Manufacturing Group; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government do not provide general financial support to the Warwick Manufacturing Group. They have however engaged the services of the University of Warwick, of which the Warwick Manufacturing Group is part, to provide specific services on a range of projects designed to improve the competitiveness of UK industry.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Boris Berezovsky

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Boris Berezovsky was granted political asylum.

Liam Byrne: It is the policy of the Border and Immigration Agency not to comment publicly on individual cases.

Children: Internet

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on which social networking sites have  (a) adopted and  (b) not adopted mechanisms to prevent child abuse.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not held centrally.
	However, the Home Secretary's Taskforce for Child Protection on the Internet has set up a working group which includes representatives from social network providers, law enforcement and children's charities. This group is looking at the safety issues for children caused by the development and growth of social networking sites and is developing good practice guidelines.

Crime: Banks

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what redress is available to a UK citizen against alleged criminal activities by Swiss banks with subsidiary offices located in London.

Vernon Coaker: Without knowing the full circumstances of a case it is difficult to assess what redress may be available. There may be a case for civil action, or where a criminal offence has been committed in the UK this should be reported to the police for them to decide on appropriate action.

Crime: Drugs

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much and what proportion of anti-drugs spending the Government allocated to the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the UK drugs strategy in  (a) reducing the availability of illicit drugs,  (b) educating young people,  (c) drug addiction treatment and  (d) tackling drug-related crime;
	(2)  how much and what proportion of anti-drugs spending the Government allocated to research to inform the UK drug strategy on  (a) availability of illicit drugs,  (b) young people's attitudes to drugs,  (c) treatment and  (d) drug-related crime in each year since 2002.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office allocated £11.4 million between 2002-03 and 2006-07 on monitoring and evaluation. A further £0.9 million is allocated for the current financial year.
	The success of the strategy will be measured by the Drug Harm Index, which captures a range of social and health harms caused by drugs. This is published annually by the Home Office. In terms of research and evaluation, the complex nature of drug misuse and its associated problems means that research projects often address a range of substantive issues. As such, it is difficult to break down funding into discrete themes. However key projects since 2002 have been around assessing the impact of interventions to tackle the availability and problems caused by drugs, measuring the relationship between drugs and crime, estimating the trends in drug consumption and the number of problematic users, and the relationship between drug consumption and young people. Completed projects are published on the Home office Research, Development and Statistics web page.

Crime: Victims

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on the information given to British victims of crime when their assailant is released from prison outside the UK.

David Hanson: I have been asked to reply.
	The statutory victim contact scheme operates in cases where the offender has been convicted of a sexual or violent offence and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment or more, in England and Wales only. In the case of life sentences, the probation service will be told of any decision to repatriate a foreign national prisoner, so that arrangements can be made to inform the victim or the victim's family of the impending transfer. Ministers have no record of receiving any representations about the provision of information to British victims of crime when the offender is subsequently released from prison outside the United Kingdom.

Departments: Common Purpose

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was.

Liam Byrne: The amount paid to Common Purpose UK by the Home Office in each of the last five years is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Training 4,406 — 7,150 11,909 9,694 
			 Conference fees — — 529 — — 
			 Grants — 36,500 — — — 
			 Total 4,406 36,500 7,679 11,909 9,694 
		
	
	The purpose and outcome of this expenditure was:
	Training expenditure: to raise awareness of leadership issues within the community.
	Grants: to fund a project on the under- representation of refugee and black minority ethnic groups in board level appointments.
	The spend covers the core Home Office, including what is now the Border and Immigration Agency, and the National Offender Management Service and Office of Criminal Justice Reform, both of which are now part of the Ministry of Justice.

Essex Police: Prosecutions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of legal action brought against Essex police are awaiting a hearing; and how many cases against Essex police were  (a) settled out of court and  (b) won by the police in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not hold this information which is a matter for the Essex Police.

Immigration

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times she has used discretionary powers to allow an individual  (a) to come to the UK and  (b) to remain in the UK in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Under the Nationality and Immigration Act 2002, the Secretary of State was given discretionary powers to allow an individual to  (a) come to the UK and  (b) remain in the UK. Officials from the Border and Immigration Agency act on behalf of the Secretary of State to implement decisions based upon the use of these discretionary powers.
	Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and European convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Claimants who meet the definition of a refugee in the 1951 convention are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum but there are other circumstances which make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. If their application is refused, they have the right of appeal to the independent Asylum and Immigration tribunal. In this way, we ensure that we provide protection of those who need it.
	Information provided in the table relates to grants of exceptional leave to remain, humanitarian protection (HP) and discretionary leave (DL) made on asylum applications received in the UK, 2002 to 2006. Humanitarian protection (HP) and discretionary leave (DL) replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003.
	
		
			  Principal applicants UK 
			   Exceptional leave to remain  Grants of humanitarian protection  Grants of discretionary leave 
			 2002 20,135 n/a n/a 
			 2003 3,975 140 3,095 
			 2004 n/a 160 3,835 
			 2005(1) n/a 120 2,675 
			 2006(1) n/a 60 2,260 
			 n/a = not applicable (1) Provisional  Notes: 1. Figures rounded to nearest five. 2. Humanitarian protection (HP) and discretionary leave (DL) replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003. 
		
	
	Distinct from discretionary leave and humanitarian protection policy, it is possible to grant someone limited leave to enter outside the rules. However, it is also possible to grant someone limited leave to enter the United Kingdom under the category of "leave outside the rules". There are two circumstances in which "leave outside the rules" will be considered in non-asylum and non-protection cases:
	where someone qualifies under one of the immigration policy concessions; or
	for reasons where there are particularly compelling circumstances.
	Circumstances in which leave outside the rules is granted are rare and are only approved following ratification by a senior caseworker.
	Figures for LOTR can only be obtained by the examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Health and Safety: Coroners

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 1713-14W, on industrial health and safety: coroners, what steps she has taken to ensure that health and safety regulations requiring employers to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to health and safety to which employees are exposed while at work have been carried out by those responsible for coroners' officers.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 12 July 2007
	The responsibility for health, safety and welfare policy for police officers and staff transferred from the Home Office to the National Policing Improvement Agency on 1 April 2007. Coroners are appointed and funded by the relevant local authority. Coroner's officers are police staff members employed by local police authorities. The health and safety of coroners and coroner's officers are the responsibility of the relevant local authority, police authority and chief constable. No central data are maintained.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to answer the letter to her predecessor of 16 May 2007 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mr. M. Akhtar.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 4 July explaining the details of this case.

Police: BNP

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the cost of policing the British National Party Red, White and Blue Festival in Sawley, Lancashire in each of the last four years.

Tony McNulty: This is an operational matter for the chief officer and the Police Authority and the information is not held centrally.

Police: BNP

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and other police staff were involved in policing  (a) during and  (b) in preparation for the British National Party Red, White and Blue Festival in Sawley, Lancashire in each of the last four years.

Tony McNulty: This information is not held centrally. The deployment of police personnel to specific duties is an operational matter for the chief constable of Lancashire constabulary.

Police: CCTV

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of custody offices in police stations are equipped with fully functioning audio and visual CCTV in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England and Wales.

Tony McNulty: This is a matter for the chief constable of the Lancashire constabulary.

Police: Complaints

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was to police forces in (a) Essex,  (b) Southend and  (c) England and Wales of defending (i) complaints and (ii) litigation taken against the police in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not hold this information; these are matters for the forces concerned.

Police: Complaints

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) about its target for conclusion of a complaint against the police from the date of registration of the complaint and the average time taken per case since the IPCC was set up; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: This is a matter for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which is responsible for the management of the police complaints system.

Police: Complaints

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is collected by her Department about complaints made against police officers; what changes are planned; what recent representations she has received about complaints against police officers; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not collect this information, which is a matter for the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Any representations about complaints against police officers are also matters for the Independent Police Complaints Commission, to which complainants are referred.

Police: Complaints

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken by  (a) her Department and  (b) police forces in England and Wales to learn any necessary lessons from cases investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: This is a matter for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which is responsible for the management of the police complaints system.

Police: Complaints

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by  (a) Essex and  (b) Southend police on (i) own force investigations, (ii) supervised investigations, (iii) managed investigations and (iv) independent investigations in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not hold this information; these are matters for Essex police.

Police: Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of funding of additional year-on-year posts of  (a) police officers and  (b) police community support officers in Gloucestershire was provided by (i) Central Government and (ii) local authorities in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The recruitment of police officers and police community support officers is a matter for the chief constable, in consultation with the police authority, in the light of their budget provisions.

Police: Manpower

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the ratio of regular police officers to residents is in  (a) Southend,  (b) each borough in Essex and  (c) England and Wales; and what each figure was in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2005.

Tony McNulty: Information is available from 2003 in terms of numbers of officers per 100,000 population for each Basic Command Unit in Essex, including Southend, and is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Total police officers (full-time equivalent) per 100,000 population, as at 31 March 
			   1997  2001  2003  2005  2006 
			  Essex Basic Command Units( 1)  
			 Basildon (2)— (2)— 150 158 160 
			 Braintree (2)— (2)— 111 113 117 
			 Chelmsford (2)— (2)— 94 103 109 
			 Colchester (2)— (2)— 124 126 134 
			 Harlow(3) (2)— (2)— 133 137 149 
			 Rayleigh (2)— (2)— 89 98 102 
			 Southend (2)— (2)— 170 179 192 
			 Tendring (2)— (2)— 122 129 127 
			 Thurrock (2)— (2)— 161 175 183 
			 England and Wales(4) 241 234 254 267 267 
			 (1 )Excluding Stansted airport and central services Basic Command Units, where comparisons with residential population are inappropriate. (2 )Figures not collected centrally prior to 2003. (3) Re-named Essex Western in 2006, without change in boundary. (4) Officers in all 43 police forces, excluding secondments to National Crime Squad, National Criminal Intelligence Service and other central services. Figures prior to 2003 exclude officers on career breaks and maternity leave.

Police: Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is issued by her Department on the circumstances and manner in which it is safe to set up a rolling police road block on motorways; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: None; this is an operational matter for the police who will decide how best to intervene in particular circumstances. The Association of Chief Police Officers' Guidance on Policing Motorways is available on the ACPO website at
	www.acpo.police.uk.

Speed Limits: Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many forward facing speed cameras were deployed in  (a) Southend and  (b) Essex police force area in the last year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally. I understand however, from Essex police, that they currently possess 10 front facing cameras. Further information as to their deployment is not available.

Speed Limits: Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of forward facing speed cameras in  (a) reducing accidents and  (b) reducing the number of persons attempting to pervert the course of justice; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Department for Transport commissioned an independent four-year evaluation of the National Safety Camera programme. This included, in its assessment, the success of cameras within the programme in reducing the number of accidents and casualties. The report, a copy of which is in the Library, did not distinguish between front and rear facing cameras. Photographs from front facing cameras may make it easier to identify the driver of a vehicle at the time it was detected committing a speeding offence, thereby making it possible to offer a fixed penalty to or bring a prosecution against that person. Guidance on the use of speed camera photographs is issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Stop and Search: Arrests

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will commission a study of the final outcomes of arrests that follow stop and searches under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Jacqui Smith: All counter terrorism legislation, including section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (stop and search), is kept under constant review. Reviewing the effectiveness of section 44 stop and search, its impact on communities and its role as a deterrent is an important part of this work.
	Lord Carlile, the independent reviewer of counter- terrorism legislation, noted that work continues to improve the usage of section 44 powers in his report into the operation of the Terrorism Act 2000 in 2006. He also comments on the usage and effectiveness of stop and search and we take his recommendations very seriously.
	National guidance for the police on the use of stop and search was published in July 2006. One of the key aims of the guidance is to set out a framework for the use of section 44 powers to ensure that they are used appropriately by officers on the ground. The guidance clearly states that the powers should only be used for searching for articles which could be used in connection with terrorism and that officers should have regard to the full range of other stop and search powers which may be more appropriate.

Terrorism: Detainees

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many terrorist suspects have been detained for more than 14 days since the implementation of the relevant legislation; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The maximum period of detention pre-charge was extended to 28 days with effect from 25 July 2006. Statistics compiled from police records show that from 25 July 2006 to 06 July 2007, 10 individuals were held for over 14 days in pre-charge detention. The following table provides a breakdown of this information:
	
		
			  Terrorism Act pre-charge detention statistics 
			  Period of detention  No of persons held  Charged  Released w/o charge  Other result 
			 14-15 days 1 1 — — 
			 15-16 days — — — — 
			 16-17 days — — — — 
			 17- 8 days — — — — 
			 18-19 days — — — — 
			 19-20 days 3 3 — — 
			 20-21 days — — — — 
			 21-22 days — — — — 
			 22-23 days — — — — 
			 23-24 days — — — — 
			 24-25 days — — — — 
			 25-26 days — — — — 
			 26-27 days — — — — 
			 27-28 days 6 3 3 —

Traffic Officers: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed on speed enforcement duties in  (a) Southend and  (b) Essex police in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: This information is not collected centrally.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations she has received from  (a) the Black Women's Rape Action Project and  (b) Legal Action for Women on (i) conditions inside Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre and (ii) the treatment of detainees, with particular reference to their treatment on route to airports; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We have received three letters directly from Black Women's Rape Action Project (BWRAP) and one jointly from BWRAP and Legal Action for Women (LAW). We have also received a number of letters via Members of Parliament from BWRAP and jointly from BWRAP and LAW. All the letters refer to the conditions inside Yarl's Wood IRC and the treatment of detainees both within the centre and under escort.

PRIME MINISTER

Delivery Unit

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit and Strategy Unit within the Cabinet Office.

Edward Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit will report jointly to the Prime Minister and to the Chancellor and will be based in the Treasury. The Strategy Unit will continue to be based in the Cabinet Office and will report to the Prime Minister through the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

TREASURY

Cornwall

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross value added of Cornwall was in each year since 1979.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 July 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Gross Value Added (GVA) for Cornwall in each year since 1979. (149361)
	Regional Gross Value Added(1) (GVA) data are produced using the official statistical geographies known as NUTS (Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics). GVA data exist for the NUTS2 region of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for the time period 1995-2004. These data are shown in table A. Gross Domestic Product(2) (GDP) data for Cornwall and Isles and Scilly were produced for the years 1993 and 1994. These data are shown in table B. Prior to this biannual GDP data exist for the county region of Cornwall. These data are shown in table C.
	The data in tables A, B and C were calculated using different methodologies and cannot be used for a consistent time series. These data are at current prices, meaning that they are not adjusted for changes in prices over time.
	(1) Gross Value Added (GVA) is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products.
	(2) Gross Domestic Product data in table B are based on the National Accounts Blue Book 2000 and table C are based on the National Accounts Blue Book 1997 and are calculated on a different basis from the current data. Therefore they cannot be used to calculate a consistent time series.
	
		
			  Table A: gross value added for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 
			   £ million 
			 1995 3,207 
			 1996 3,421 
			 1997 3,591 
			 1998 3,777 
			 1999 3,993 
			 2000 4,266 
			 2001 4,625 
			 2002 4,987 
			 2003 5,381 
			 2004 5,741 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: gross domestic product for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 
			   £ million 
			 1993 3,006 
			 1994 3,107 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: gross domestic product for Cornwall 
			   £ million 
			 1979 926 
			 1981 1,207 
			 1984 1,547 
			 1987 2,105 
			 1989 2,689 
			 1991 2,886

Delivery Unit

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit has conducted a review of financial management in the NHS;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2007,  Official Report, column 747W, on Delivery Unit, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance on conducting joint reviews for use in training staff;
	(3)  what the subject was of all joint reviews carried out by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit in each financial year since 2001-02.

Andy Burnham: PMDU has not conducted a review of financial management in the NHS, though it has worked with the Treasury and the Department of Health on a joint review of balancing DH funding and expenditure.
	I will ensure a copy of the PMDU's guidance on conducting joint reviews is placed in the Library.
	Since its inception in 2001, PMDU has carried out the following delivery related joint reviews with Departments:
	 Education
	 2002-03
	Key Stage 3
	Performance Management in Schools
	Key Stage 2
	 2003-04
	Bureaucracy in Schools
	Key Stage 3 Follow up
	 2004-05
	Key Stage 4
	Single Conversation in Schools
	Not in Education, Employment or Training PSA Design Review
	School Support Staff Training Review
	 2005-06
	Level 2 attainment at 19
	10 Year Childcare Strategy
	Unauthorised Absence and Persistent Truancy
	 2006-07
	Primary and secondary school standards National Strategy
	Teenage pregnancy
	Pupil attendance
	Pupil behaviour
	Targeted Youth Support
	Building Schools for the Future
	Delivering 14-19 Reform
	Department's Capability Review
	 Health
	 2002-03
	Accident and Emergency 4 hour target
	 2003-04
	Accident and Emergency: Achieving and Sustaining 100 per cent.
	Increasing the Impact of Early Thrombolysis
	6 Month Waiting
	Achieving the 24/48 Hour Primary Care Access Target
	 2004-05
	Choose and Book
	Choice at Six Months
	 2005-06
	Long Term Conditions
	MRSA
	Cancer Waiting Times
	 2006-07
	Non Elective Demand Management
	18 weeks
	Choice of four providers
	Practice-based commissioning
	NHS reform programme
	Childhood obesity
	Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health
	Health Inequalities
	 2007-08
	PCT Capability
	NHS Reform Programme
	Department's Capability Review
	 Immigration
	 2002-03
	Increasing the Removals of Failed Asylum Seekers
	 2004-05
	Follow Up Interim findings
	IND Redocumentation
	Optimising Use of Detention
	Solutions that Improve IND Performance in Ensuring Priority Failed Asylum Seeker Cases are Removed
	 2005-06
	Local Enforcement Office Inspections
	Visa Issuing Overseas
	 2006-07
	New Asylum Model Evaluation
	 Crime, Justice and Reoffending
	 2001-02
	Street Robbery
	 2003-04
	Street Robbery Follow Up
	 2004-05
	Improving the Criminal Justice System in London
	Increasing Sanction Detections
	 2005-06
	Improving the Criminal Justice System in London—follow up
	Increasing Sanction Detections—follow up
	Drug Treatment
	Community Penalties
	 2006-07
	Asset Recovery
	Antisocial Behaviour
	Reducing Reoffending
	Citizen Focused Policing
	Respect Action Plans
	High Crime Causing Drug Users
	National Offender Management
	Non-Custodial Sentences
	Department's Capability Review
	 Communities and Local Government
	 2005-06
	Local Authority Development Control
	Evidence Base to Support Housing Delivery
	 2007-08
	Cross Government Delivery of Local Area Agreements
	 Transport
	 2003-04
	Intra-Urban Congestion
	 2004-05
	Rail
	Rail Follow Up
	 Other Projects
	 2006-07
	Neighbourhood Renewal Unit approach to delivering floor targets
	Access to the Arts
	Government Offices
	Sustainable Procurement

Departments: Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in his Department have been  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for (i) inappropriate use of the internet while at work and (ii) using work telephones to access premium rate telephone numbers in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: The number of people who have been  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for (i) inappropriate use of the internet while at work and (ii) using work telephones to access premium rate telephone numbers in the last 12 months is nil.

Departments: Freedom of Information

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the requests made to his Department under the  (a) Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000 and  (b) Environmental Information Regulations in the last six months; and what the (i) FOI case reference number, (ii) request summary, (iii) request outcome and (iv) where appropriate, reason for exemption was in each case.

Angela Eagle: Information relating to Freedom of Information and Environmental Information requests is published on a quarterly basis by the Ministry of Justice. Information for January to March 2007 was published on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 10WS. Copies of the document are in the Libraries of the House. Information for April to June 2007 is due to be published in the autumn. The Treasury website has a section dedicated to FOI releases.

Departments: Legislation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criminal offences have been introduced by his Department in primary legislation since October 2006.

Angela Eagle: No criminal offences have been included in primary legislation receiving Royal Assent between October 2006 and 11 July 2007.

Departments: Public Transport

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what incentives he has considered to encourage staff in his Department to use public transport.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 4 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1067W.

Departments: Racial Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which his Department is responsible have been  (a) investigated and  (b) upheld in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: The procedures for investigating complaints of racial abuse have been initiated fewer than five times in the last 12 months. Numbers are therefore not available on the grounds of confidentiality.

European Union Solidarity Fund

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what applications the UK made to the European Union Solidarity Fund in each of the last five years.

Kitty Ussher: The UK has made a single application to the European Union Solidarity Fund in the past five years. The application was submitted in 2006 following the Buncefield fuel depot explosion. However, the total damage did not meet the strict criteria for mobilising the fund.

Finance: Iraq

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what mechanisms were put in place in his Department prior to March 2003 to estimate the likely cost of military operations in Iraq;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the value-for-money of expenditure on  (a) military operations and  (b) reconstruction in Iraq;
	(3)  how much was allocated in the 2004 Spending Review to be spent on reconstruction in Iraq, broken down by  (a) the Department to which it was allocated and  (b) (i) capital and (ii) resource spending;
	(4)  what procedures his Department has in place for assessing the amount to place in the Special Reserve each year to cover the cost of operations in Iraq;
	(5)  what estimate his Department made before the 2003 Budget of the cost of the  (a) war and  (b) reconstruction in Iraq in each of the subsequent five financial years.

Andy Burnham: By their nature the total cost of military operations are difficult to estimate from the outset. Pre-Budget report 2002 set aside £1 billion for the cost of operations in Iraq. On the basis of MOD forecasts this was increased to £3 billion at Budget 2003 as a prudent contingency.
	The nature of operations, whether in Iraq or elsewhere, means that they cannot be time-limited from the outset. As a result, HM Treasury maintains a rolling annual estimate of the cost of operations and reviews the costs of and provision for military operations at the time of the pre-Budget report and the Budget. Military operations are routinely evaluated in order to measure progress and capture lessons learnt.
	By Budget 2003 a total of £240 million had been committed for humanitarian assistance in Iraq, and in addition, Budget 2003 announced a further $100 million to back up the UN and the work of reconstruction and international development. At the Madrid Conference in October 2003, the UK pledged $900 million (£544 million) for reconstruction in Iraq over the period 2003-04 to 2005-06. The 2004 Spending Review allocated funds to enable this commitment to be fulfilled. At the launch of the International Compact for Iraq in Sharm El Sheikh on 3 May 2007, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK will spend at least £200 million over and above the Madrid pledge, to be disbursed over the next three years.
	The Iraq reconstruction programme is subject to the standard internal DFID guidelines for the monitoring and evaluation of all programmes and projects. DFID has reporting arrangements in place for each of the projects it runs in Iraq, which means that funding is tracked and monitored throughout the process.
	Effective performance management and lesson learning is key to how DFID assesses its progress against its value for money target.

Identity Cards: Freedom of Information

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) legal and  (b) other costs have been of dealing with Freedom of Information requests for the publication of the Gateway review on the identity cards scheme.

Angela Eagle: OGC has received 14 Freedom of Information requests specifically for OGC Gateway™ information on the Home Office's national identity scheme programme. Two of these are being appealed at the High court, and one is being appealed at the Information Tribunal.
	The total legal costs incurred in handling these requests so far has been approximately £60,000.
	Staff time or other overheads in relation to FOI requests are not recorded by OGC.

Life Expectancy

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the life expectancy was of  (a) men and  (b) women in each primary care trust area of England for the most recent year for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 July 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the life expectancy was of (a) men and (b) women in each primary care trust area of England for the most recent year for which figures are available. (149513)
	The most recent available figures for period life expectancy at birth in primary care organisations(1) (PCOs) are for 2001-03, and were provided in the Answer to Question 84021 which can be found in Hansard of 12th July 2006, col. 1840W. A copy of the figures provided is available in the House of Commons Library.
	Please note that these figures refer to the names and boundaries of PCOs as they existed before the NHS organisational changes of October 2006. ONS expects to publish life expectancy figures for PCOs for years after 2001-03 based on the current (2006) boundaries.
	(1)Primary care organisations consist of Primary Care Trusts and Care Trusts.

Life Expectancy

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the life expectancy of  (a) men and  (b) women in England was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 16 July 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question regarding what the life expectancy of (a) men and (b) women in England was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence. (149514)
	The table below shows life expectancies at birth for males and females in England for the years 1994-1996 to 2003-2005 inclusive. These are 'period' expectation of life figures, which are calculated from the mortality rates actually experienced in the given years. They do not allow for possible changes in mortality in future years.
	
		
			  Period expectation of life at birth 
			  Years 
			   Males  Females 
			 1994-96 74.3 79.5 
			 1995-97 74.5 79.6 
			 1996-98 74.8 79.8 
			 1997-99 75.0 79.9 
			 1998-2000 75.3 80.1 
			 1999-2001 75.7 80.4 
			 2000-02 76.0 80.6 
			 2001-03 76.2 80.7 
			 2002-04 76.6 80.9 
			 2003-05 76.9 81.2 
		
	
	'Cohort' life expectancy figures, which do allow for projected changes in mortality at later years, are available from the Government Actuary's Department's website at:
	http://www.gad.gov.uk/Life_Tables/Period_and_cohort_eol.htm

Life Expectancy

Stephen Byers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the life expectancy is of  (a) males and  (b) females in each of the 25 (i) most and (ii) least deprived electoral wards; and how many, on average, of these years will be spent with a disability.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 July 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the life expectancy is of (a) males and (b) females in each of the 25 (i) most deprived electoral wards and (ii) least deprived wards; and how many on average of these years will be spent with a disability. (149945)
	The attached table provides the period life expectancy at birth in the 25 (i) most deprived and (ii) least deprived wards in England and Wales, as a five-year average for 1999-2003 (the only period available). The figures are presented for (a) males, (b) females and (c) all persons, as some wards are too small for the calculation of life expectancies for males and females separately.
	These figures are experimental statistics—that is, statistics which are in a testing or consultation phase and are not fully developed—and should therefore be treated with caution. Because life expectancies for wards can be based on very small numbers of deaths and small populations, they are subject to large variations even when averaged over five years, and extreme results may be due only to chance.
	Based on these life expectancy figures, ONS will release experimental statistics on disability-free life expectancy at birth for wards on 23rd August 2007. These will provide a breakdown of the period life expectancy estimate for each ward into years spent without a disability (or disability-free) and years spent with a disability.
	A recently published analysis showed that on average, males could expect to spend 18 out of 71 years (25 per cent.) of life with a disability in the most deprived twentieth of all wards in England and Wales grouped together, and 11 out of 79 years (14 per cent.) in the least deprived twentieth. Females could expect to spend 21 out of 78 years of life (27 per cent.) with a disability in the most deprived twentieth of wards, and 13 out of 82 years (16 per cent.) in the least deprived twentieth.(1)
	(1) Rasulo D, Bajekal M, Yar M (2007). Inequalities in health expectancies in England and Wales—small area analysis from the 2001 Census. Health Statistics Quarterly 34, 35-45
	
		
			  Table 1. Period life expectancy at birth by sex( 1,2)  for the 25 most deprived and 25 least deprived( 3)  wards in England and Wales, 1999-2003( 4) 
			  Years of life 
			  Rank order  Local authority  Ward  Males  Females  Persons  Communal establishment indicator( 5) 
			   Most deprived  
			 1 Oldham Coldhurst 72 77 74 1 
			 2 Tower Hamlets Bromley-by-Bow 72 80 75 2 
			 3 Birmingham Sparkbrook 70 78 74 5 
			 4 Tower Hamlets Bethnal Green South 72 81 76 0 
			 5 Tower Hamlets Spitalfields and Banglatown 72 79 75 4 
			 6 Birmingham Aston 72 80 75 2 
			 7 Tower Hamlets Shadwell 73 79 76 1 
			 8 Middlesbrough Middlehaven 65 72 68 0 
			 9 Tower Hamlets Whitechapel 73 79 76 5 
			 10 Tower Hamlets Mile End East 72 79 76 1 
			 11 Bradford Bradford Moor 71 74 72 0 
			 12 Tower Hamlets St. Dunstan's and Stepney Green 73 77 75 2 
			 13 Tower Hamlets Weavers 74 81 77 1 
			 14 Bradford University 71 76 73 2 
			 15 Knowsley Princess 68 77 72 5 
			 16 Leicester Spinney Hills 74 80 77 1 
			 17 Liverpool Granby 67 74 70 0 
			 18 Newham Green Street East 76 81 78 0 
			 19 Newham Green Street West 76 79 77 2 
			 20 Kensington and Chelsea Golborne 74 82 78 1 
			 21 Newham Little Ilford 72 77 75 0 
			 22 Redcar and Cleveland Grangetown 70 78 74 0 
			 23 Knowsley Longview 73 80 76 2 
			 24 Birmingham Small Heath 72 79 76 0 
			 25 Birmingham Nechells 70 77 74 2 
			
			   Least deprived  
			 1 Chiltern Austenwood 76 82 78 5 
			 2 Surrey Heath St. Pauls 79 80 80 5 
			 3 South Bucks Gerrards Cross South 83 95 87 0 
			 4 Macclesfield Prestbury 78 84 81 4 
			 5 Macclesfield Knutsford Norbury Booths 85 87 86 0 
			 6 East Staffordshire Little Aston 77 79 78 4 
			 7 Three Rivers Chorteywood East 80 83 81 4 
			 8 Lichfield Nonsuch 80 82 81 2 
			 9 Winchester Whiteley 79 81 83 0 
			 10 Cardiff Lisvane 83 83 83 0 
			 11 Wealden Crowborough St. Johns 74 78 76 3 
			 12 Reading Mapledurham 84 86 85 0 
			 13 Waverley Godalming Holloway 82 86 84 0 
			 14 Daventry Brampton — — 84 0 
			 15 Durham Shincliffe — — 82 5 
			 16 Waverley Farnham Bourne 82 88 85 1 
			 17 Tandridge Woldingham — 84 82 2 
			 18 Sedgemoor Axe Vale 83 82 82 1 
			 19 Rushcliffe Wolds — 82 78 5 
			 20 Woking Mayford and Sutton Green 78 86 82 0 
			 21 Monmouthshire Shirenewton 77 — 81 0 
			 22 Wokingham Barkham 78 85 81 0 
			 23 Wokingham Finchampstead North 80 88 84 1 
			 24 Mole Valley Ashtead Park 80 83 82 3 
			 25 Three Rivers Moor Park and Eastbury 80 80 80 5 
			 (1) Period life expectancy at birth is an estimate of the average number of years a newborn baby would survive if he or she experienced the area's age-specific mortality rates for that time period throughout his or her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in each time period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not therefore the number of years a baby born in the area in each time period could actually expect to live, both because the death rates of the area are likely to change in the future and because many of those born in the area will live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives. (2) Wards for which life expectancy for one or both sexes could not be calculated due to small numbers are marked by '—'. Life expectancy for all persons combined is given for all wards. (3) Deprivation was measured using the Carstairs deprivation score, which reflects levels of household overcrowding, male unemployment, low social class and car ownership. (4) Five year averages, based on deaths registered in each year, and experimental ward population estimates based on the 2001 Census. The ward names and boundaries used are 2001 Census Standard Table wards. (5) The presence of medical and care communal establishments; such as nursing homes and hospices, can artificially depress the average life expectancy of the ward in which they are located. To aid interpretation of the figures, this indicator shows the proportion of the population of each ward, aged 65 and over, who were resident in such establishments in 2001. For this purpose, all wards in England and Wales (not only the wards in these boroughs) were divided into six groups which are numbered from 0 to five: '0' means that none of the over-65 population lived in medical and care communal establishments; '1' means that the proportion of the over-65 population in such establishments was in the lowest fifth of all wards; '5' means that the proportion of the over-65 population in such establishments was in the highest fifth of all wards.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reply to the letters dated 23 April and 23 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton to the Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs on Mr. Tallat Ayub.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC replied to my right hon. Friend on 10 July 2007.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Council of Economic Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to continue the arrangements for special advisers to work on a Council of Economic Advisers.

Angela Eagle: Policy experts will continue to be employed on the Council of Economic Advisers on special adviser terms.

National Income

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) gross domestic product and  (b) gross value added per head was in each (i) region and (ii) county of the UK in each year since 1998.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 16 July 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about gross value added (GVA) and gross domestic product (GDP) per head in each region and county in the UK in each year since 1998.1 am replying in her absence. (149490)
	The Office for National Statistics publishes regional GVA(1) using official statistical geographies known as Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS)(2). NUTS1 includes Government Office Regions, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NUTS2 and NUTS3 include county level data but do not fully correspond to the counties of the United Kingdom. Regional GVA estimates are expressed at current basic prices and do not allow for changes in prices over time (inflation) or differences in regional price levels (purchasing power).
	The full range of regional GVA estimates is available on the ONS website:
	http/www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14650
	(1) Gross Value Added (GVA) is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products.
	(2) The Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS) provides a single uniform breakdown for the production of regional statistics for the European Union. Regional GVA data are produced at three levels of NUTS in the UK. These are:
	NUTS1: Government Office Regions and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
	NUTS2: 37 areas—sometimes referred to as sub-regions.
	NUTS3: 133 areas—generally groups of unitary authorities or districts, also known as local areas.

National Insurance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many national insurance cards are in circulation in the United Kingdom.

Jane Kennedy: It is not possible to state how many national insurance cards are in circulation. Once a national insurance number (NINO) has been allocated to an individual, HMRC IT systems issue them with a plastic NINO card to act as a permanent reminder of the number. The card clearly states that it is not proof of identity. The card itself is purely a notification card and is not considered to be a secure document and as such the card is not numbered or controlled.

Remittances

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's mechanisms for the monitoring of agencies specialising in international money transfers; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The Treasury conducted an assessment of the supervision of money service businesses by HMRC for anti-money laundering purposes in autumn 2006. Its conclusions are currently being implemented as part of the UK's criminal and terrorist finance strategy, launched in February this year.
	The Government have also committed, following agreement reached on the EU Payment Services Directive (PSD) in April 2007, to bring money transfer companies into regulation from November 2009. The Treasury will launch a public consultation on the implementation of the PSD in autumn 2007.

Revenue and Customs: Personal Records

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  with which  (a) Government Departments and  (b) local authorities HM Revenue and Customs shares (i) individual tax liability records and (ii) capital gains tax liability records;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the merits of  (a) cross checking and  (b) sharing (i) all tax liability records and (ii) capital gains tax liability records with those (A) Government Departments and (B) local authorities for which such data would assist them with the efficient discharge of their responsibilities;
	(3)  what rules govern the exchange and sharing of tax data and capital gains tax records with  (a) officials in other Government Departments and  (b) officials in local authorities.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC may only disclose information in accordance with the provisions of section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.
	Statutory gateways provide HMRC with the lawful authority to share its information with others. Gateways detail with whom the information may be shared and for what purpose. All disclosures must be fully compliant with the provisions of the Data Protection and Human Rights Acts.
	These gateways permit HMRC to disclose relevant, necessary and appropriate information in limited and defined circumstances to enable them to efficiently discharge their responsibilities. A list of the most commonly used gateways can be accessed via the following link:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/idgmanual/IDG60000.htm.

Taxation: Casinos

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the increase in casino taxation on existing small and medium sized casinos;
	(2)  what taxation rates and duties are paid by  (a) bookmakers,  (b) casino operators,  (c) bingo operators and  (d) online gambling operators in the UK.

Angela Eagle: The rates of taxation for betting, gaming and lotteries are published in the HM Revenue and Customs Betting and Gaming Factsheet, available at http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm? task=factbetting.
	The Government take all relevant factors into consideration when establishing and maintaining fair regimes for the gambling taxes.

Unemployment: Young People

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of 19 to 21-year-olds were  (a) economically inactive and not in full-time education and  (b) unemployed in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 16 July 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about persons aged 19 to 21 who are either economically inactive and not in full-time education or unemployed. I am replying in her absence. (149097)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles statistics of economic inactivity and unemployment for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows the numbers and percentages of persons aged 19 to 21 who are economically inactive and not in full-time education, resident in each local education authority in Great Britain, for the 12 months ending in February from 1999 to 2004 from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March 2005 to 2006. Data for the 12 month periods ending in February 1997, February 1998 and February 2000 are not readily available for local education authorities.
	Table 2, attached, shows the numbers and percentages of persons aged 19 to 21 who are unemployed, resident in each local education authority in Great Britain, for the 12 months ending in February from 1999 to 2004 from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March 2005 to 2006. Data for the 12 month periods ending in February 1997, February 1998 and February 2000 are not readily available for local education authorities.
	Note that the percentages provided, as requested, are proportions of the 19 to 21 population. This is not the official unemployment rate which is defined as the number of unemployed expressed as the percentage of the economically active population.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. In this case, the sample sizes are not sufficient to give an accurate estimate of even the direction of the change over time.
	As the information provided is extensive, a copy of the tables has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Welfare Tax Credits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) individuals and  (b) households were in receipt of either child tax credit or working tax credit in each year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The average number of households benefiting from either child or working tax credits in each year, or receiving the equivalent support through out-of-work benefits, is shown in 'Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics: Finalised annual awards' for 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06. These are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm
	These publications also show the number of couple and single adult households benefiting from tax credits, as well as the average number of children in these households.

Welfare Tax Credits: IT

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the technical issues are which are affecting tax credit IT systems entitlement calculations.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 2.39 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report, which is available on the NAO website at:
	http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/06-07/0607626.pdf

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Departments: Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what percentage of staff in her Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions; and what steps she has taken in the last 12 months to encourage more people to make such contributions.

Iain Wright: Forty-two members of staff in Communities and Local Government (1.9 per cent. of the total number of staff employed by the Department) currently make additional voluntary pension contributions through deductions from their pay. Pension scheme members receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension built up to date, and also a projection of pension on retirement if the member continues in service to scheme pension age. The benefit statement provides details of the Civil Service Pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including on options for making additional voluntary contributions to boost their pension.

Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether her Department has had discussions with the Community Development Foundation on the appropriateness of religious groups receiving grants from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund where allegations of cultish behaviour have been made against them;
	(2)  what representations her Department has received on cultish behaviour in the  (a) Friends of the Western Buddhist Order,  (b) New Kudampa Tradition and  (c) Soka Gakkai International.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has received correspondence from a member of the public regarding the alleged cultish behaviour of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, New Kadarnpa Tradition and Soka Gakkai International. No other representation has been received by the Department. Communities and Local Government has commissioned the Community Development Foundation to administer the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund. Officials made the Community Development Foundation aware of the existence of the allegations. The Department considered whether these allegations had any relevance when set against the Fund's stringent criteria and guidelines. The decision was made that the criteria were satisfied and the award of funding was made.

Fire Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which fire services provide no whole-time fire cover at night across their entire service area.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 11 July 2007
	 The information requested is not held centrally.

Fire Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of levels of night-time fire cover across the country; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 11 July 2007
	Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) are required by the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework to have in place and maintain an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) which reflects local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and potential risks to communities. The IRMP enables the Authority to tailor cover, to fire and other incidents, to local circumstances by evaluating where risk is greatest and allocating resources accordingly.
	It is not the role of Ministers to intervene in the operational proposals of an authority's IRMP; that is for elected members of the authority concerned to determine following full consultation with the local community. The local authority is best placed to act on the professional advice of principal officers and to balance the competing local demands on available resources for the benefits of the communities they serve.

Floods: EU Grants and Loans

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether an application has been made to the European Union Solidarity Fund as a result of the recent flooding across the UK.

John Healey: We are keen to access appropriate sources of funding to help deal with the flooding that has so badly affected some of the English regions. We are urgently investigating whether the recent flooding would meet the criteria set by the European Commission for applying for support to the European Union Solidarity Fund.

Floods: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether  (a) Milton Keynes Council and  (b) Stoke Goldington Parish Council will be eligible following the severe flooding in Stoke Goldington, Milton Keynes to apply for part of the £14 million emergency fund for flooded communities recently announced by the Prime Minister.

John Healey: holding answer 12 July 2007
	 The £14 million package of aid announced by the Prime Minister comprises three elements.
	Firstly, there is a £10 million Flood Recovery Grant Scheme administered by my Department to support local authorities in their work within communities affected by the flooding, and in particular to enable them to help those in greatest and most immediate need get back on their feet. This is funding for lower-tier local authorities, so Stoke Goldington Parish Council is not eligible.
	I announced on 13 July a series of initial payments to local authorities under this scheme, based on the information available to me at the time about the number of households affected by flooding and on my judgment as how to best share the available funding to the best benefit of affected communities. Milton Keynes was considered for, but has not received, an initial payment. We will be making allocations in due course of the remaining funding, and are encouraging all affected local authorities to work closely with their Government Office on assessing the impact of the recent flooding. I will consider the case for payments to all eligible councils on the basis of the information I have at that time.
	Secondly, there is £3 million from the Department for Transport to assist emergency capital works needed to restore the functionality of the highway network. This is for highways authorities, which means that Milton Keynes can apply but Stoke Goldington cannot. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature and urgency of the repairs, and the availability of resources.
	Finally, there is £1 million which can be drawn on as contingency reserve by the Department for Work and Pensions for use by Jobcentre Plus to support additional demand for Social Fund Community Care Grants. This is not funding for local authorities but for individuals, who should apply direct to Jobcentre Plus in the usual way.

Floods: Northern Region

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of the residential properties affected in the recent flooding in the north of England were built in the last 10 years.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally.

Homelessness: North East region

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress is being made towards tackling homelessness on Wearside; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Local authorities on Wearside have made good progress in tackling homelessness since 2003. Collectively they have already met the 2010 temporary accommodation reduction target and homeless acceptances have dropped by over 30 per cent. during that period.
	
		
			  Local authority  Homelessness acceptances  Temporary accommodation 
			  Sunderland   
			 2003-04 894 12 
			 2004-05 597 15 
			 2005-06 593 9 
			 2006-07 579 9 
			
			  Chester Le Street   
			 2003-04 134 68 
			 2004-05 109 108 
			 2005-06 81 89 
			 2006-07 82 15 
			
			  Durham   
			 2003-04 212 42 
			 2004-05 271 29 
			 2005-06 245 2 
			 2006-07 219 8 
			
			  Wear Valley   
			 2003-04 172 22 
			 2004-05 124 9 
			 2005-06 117 9 
			 2006-07 94 10

Housing: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans her Department has to increase targets for future house building in Bournemouth.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 1471-72W. The draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy, which recently completed its examination in public, states a range for 2006-26 of between 680 and 780 dwellings per annum for Bournemouth.
	Future housing targets for Bournemouth will be set out in the Local Development Framework for the district, and will need to be in accordance with the Regional Spatial Strategy when finalised.

Housing: Essex

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many vulnerable households lived in non-decent homes in Essex in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many vulnerable households in non-decent homes there are in Essex.

Iain Wright: Information on the number of vulnerable households living in non-decent homes in each local authority district is not available centrally. A Decent Home: Definition and guidance for implementation (June 2006-Update) advises local authorities, as part of their strategic management of housing in their area, to carry out periodic surveys to, amongst other things, assess the number of vulnerable households living in non-decent homes who own or privately rent their accommodation. Individual local authorities are best placed to advise on their latest assessment. The guidance referred to above is available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1152190

Housing: Low Incomes

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were built in Windsor in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: holding answer 12 July 2007
	The number of affordable homes provided through new build and acquisitions on behalf of Windsor and Maidenhead local authority are in the following table. These figures include 'social for rent' and 'low cost home ownership'.
	
		
			   Number of affordable housing dwellings provided 
			 1997-98 164 
			 1998-99 184 
			 1999-2000 270 
			 2000-01 123 
			 2001-02 117 
			 2002-03 118 
			 2003-04 87 
			 2004-05 120 
			 2005-06 69 
			  Source:  Housing Corporation and returns from local authorities

Housing: Multiple Occupation

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of domestic residential properties in multiple occupation as a percentage of the total number of individual properties in each local authority area.

Iain Wright: A table detailing the latest estimates of the number of all houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) as a percentage of the total number of dwellings in each local authority area has been placed in the Library of the House. The data were provided by local authorities to the Department as part of their Annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Abortion

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to seek the views of the Northern Ireland Assembly before any legislation is brought forward at Westminster which would change the law relating to abortion in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Government have no plans to amend the law on abortion in Northern Ireland. We believe the best forum for discussion of these questions is the Northern Ireland Assembly, once it has assumed responsibility for the criminal law.

Abortion

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what powers Parliament retains to legislate on abortion in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The legislation governing abortion in Northern Ireland falls within the field of criminal law and, as such, remains a reserved matter in Northern Ireland under the terms of paragraph 9(a) of Schedule 3 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. This means that any legislation on it would fall to Parliament at Westminster to take forward, although, as with all reserved matters, under the terms of section 8(b) of the 1998 Act, the Northern Ireland Assembly may legislate on this matter with the consent of the Secretary of State.

Community Policing

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on community policing in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: My Department continues to work closely with PSNI in relation to the development of community policing. In September 2006, PSNI set up a dedicated branch to develop its approach to policing with the community. A review- of neighbourhood policing was also undertaken, drawing on best practice from other police services.
	In his final report of 19 May 2007, the Oversight Commissioner for Police Reform indicated that five of the eight recommendations on policing with the community were complete and that substantial progress had been made on the remaining three.
	On 18 June 2007 the chief constable and his senior staff approved the corporate framework for neighbourhood policing. The 25 recommendations contained therein will now begin to be implemented throughout all police districts. Workshops to inform officers about the 25 recommendations and the way ahead are currently being held within the eight police districts and will be completed by 27 July 2007.
	A Corporate Implementation Team (whose role it will be to deliver the recommendations) has been selected. A project plan is being prepared; however all eight districts are already implementing those recommendations that can be implemented now.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 6 June 2007,  Official Report, column 515W, on Departments: official hospitality, if he will provide a breakdown by main budget heading of his Department's  (a) agencies and  (b) NDPBs expenditure on official hospitality for each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The following table indicates how much the Northern Ireland Office's agencies and executive NDPBs spent on official hospitality for each of the last three years:
	
		
			  £ 
			   (a) Hospitality spend—agencie s  (b) Hospitality spend—executive NDPB s 
			 2004-05 44,807 122,313 
			 2005-06 41,191 141,088 
			 2006-07 77,555 228,380

Departments: Racial Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which his Department is responsible have been  (a) investigated and  (b) upheld in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: During the last 12 months the NIO has not received any official complaints of racial abuse. All staff joining the NIO undergo mandatory equal opportunities awareness training as part of their induction, which includes guidance on appropriate behaviour in the workplace. A new diversity course, which concentrates on treating others with dignity, is due to be rolled out to the whole Department in the coming months.

Police: County Armagh

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on  (a) policing and  (b) the security situation in South Armagh; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: My Department has regular discussions with the PSNI on a variety of topics related to policing and security, including matters relating to South Armagh. For security reasons, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the exact nature of such discussions.

Prisoners Release

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid to prisoners who were released early from prison under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.

Paul Goggins: Each prisoner released under the terms of the Northern Ireland Sentence Act (1998) were given a discharge grant, maximum £103.81, in line with that given to all persons released from prison. There was no special provision for these prisoners.

Prisoners Release

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid to prisoners under the provisions for the resettlement of offenders since 1998.

Paul Goggins: Under the provisions for the resettlement of offenders, there was no special provision made for individual prisoners released under the terms of the Northern Ireland Sentence Act (1998). On their release these prisoners were given a discharge grant in line with that given to all persons released from prison. In addition, various Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office made funding available to ex-prisoner groups. This included Peace and Gap funding.

Proscribed Organisations

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many paramilitary-style assaults took place in Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by group deemed responsible; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Casualties as result of paramilitary-style assaults 
			   Perceived attribution( 1) 
			   Loyalists  Republicans  Total 
			  2006
			 July 5 1 6 
			 August 2 5 7 
			 September 1 2 3 
			 October 1 2 3 
			 November 2 0 2 
			 December 1 0 1 
			  2007
			 January 3 1 4 
			 February 6 0 6 
			 March 6 0 6 
			 April 3 0 3 
			 May 0 1 1 
			 June 0 1 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Casualties as result of paramilitary-style shootings 
			   Perceived attribution( 1) 
			   Loyalists  Republicans  Total 
			  2006
			 July 3 0 3 
			 August 1 1 2 
			 September 2 1 3 
			 October 0 5 5 
			 November 0 1 1 
			 December 0 0 0 
			  2007
			 January 0 1 1 
			 February 0 0 0 
			 March 0 0 0 
			 April 0 0 0 
			 May 0 0 0 
			 June 0 0 0 
			 (1)Please note that the PSNI capture these incidents as Loyalists or Republicans, they are not broken down into specific groups. Attribution is as perceived by PSNI based on the information available and does not necessarily indicate the involvement of a paramilitary organisation.   Note:  Statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

Proscribed Organisations

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many acts of criminality took place in Northern Ireland by paramilitary groups in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by group deemed responsible; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The information is not available in the format requested. However, since April 2004 the Independent Monitoring Commission has monitored and reported on paramilitary-style crimes and involvement in organised crime. The Commission has presented 15 reports to date with detailed analysis of paramilitary activity.
	In addition, the Police Service of Northern Ireland holds up-to-date and comprehensive statistical analysis on crime and security in Northern Ireland. The information can be accessed on PSNI's website at www.psni.police.uk.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency: Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much was spent on  (a) managing the Child Support Agency's (CSA) corporate identity in each year since 1997-98 and  (b) branding of the CSA in each of the last two years;
	(2)  how much was spent by the Child Support Agency on  (a) staff parties,  (b) newspapers, magazines and periodicals,  (c) stationery and  (d) other promotional merchandise branded with the name of the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how much was spent by the Child Support Agency on branding in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 16 July 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions:
	; and
	; and
	How much was spent by the Child Support Agency on branding in each year since 1997.
	The Child Support Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for Work and Pensions (and prior to 8th June 2001 formed part of the Department of Social Security). The Agency uses the Department's accounting system to record and report expenditure. While the accounting system does not have the functionality to report separately the discreet activities and day-to-day costs associated with either managing the Agency's corporate identity, or branding, and the information is therefore not available in the format you requested, we can identify external consultancy cost of approximately £60,000 on researching brand development incurred in September 2005.
	In response to your other question:
	Staff Parties—The Agency has incurred no expenditure on staff parties in any of the last five years.
	Newspapers, magazines and periodicals—The Department for Work and Pensions accounting system does not enable us to provide an analysis of spending on these products. As such, the information is not available in the requested format.
	Stationery—As the Department's accounting system combines spend on both printing and stationery, I am therefore unable to provide a breakdown of Stationery only. The total costs for printing and stationery are included in the table below.
	Other promotional merchandise branded with the name of the Child Support Agency—The Agency spend on branded material is included in the table below. The Department's accounting system is unable to provide a separate breakdown of branded products (forms, leaflets etc) compared to non-branded items (routine stationery i.e. pens, paper etc).
	The printing and stationery costs included in the table all cover posters, leaflets, letters, printing supplies, paper, pens etc. used by the Child Support Agency in a given year. The costs for printing and stationery over the last 5 years are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Printing and stationery (£ million) 
			 2002-03 2.2 
			 2003-04 1.8 
			 2004-05 1.8 
			 2005-06 2.1 
			 2006-07 2.2 
			 Total 10.1 
		
	
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Poverty

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answers of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 450W and 455W, to the hon. Member for Birkenhead, on children: poverty, if he will give the equivalent data for the north-east region in each case.

Anne McGuire: Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2005-06 (Revised)".
	Figures on the 30 per cent. of median income threshold and any lower thresholds, and on the number of children removed from relative poverty due to payment of child support in the north-east, are not statistically robust as the sample sizes are too small.
	The available information has been placed in the Library.

Departments: Departmental Records

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many files  (a) Capita and  (b) other private contractors are holding for his Department and its agency; what the cost is of this service; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The number of files Capita is holding for the Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies at July 2007 is approximately 52.7 million. No files are held by other private contractors.
	The record storage contract with the Department was competitively let to Capita in June 2004. Capita is the only approved file store service provider to the Department and its agencies. It is now the principal method of storing benefit claims, once discharged from the processing office, and other paper records and registered files. The contract with Capita is until June 2010 with an option to extend up to June 2014. The current annual cost of this service is about £15.5 million. Since 2004 the contract has realised value for money savings, both in service efficiencies and reduced estates costs, in the region of £16.5 million.

Departments: Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in his Department have been  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for (i) inappropriate use of the internet while at work and (ii) using work telephones to access premium rate telephone numbers in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The information on the number of people disciplined and dismissed for inappropriate use of the internet for the period January 2006 to December 2006 is shown in the following table. We are in the process of collating information for 2007.
	
		
			  January 2006 to December 2006 
			   Number 
			 Dismissed 8 
			 Disciplined 53 
		
	
	No information is held on the number of disciplinary actions or dismissals for using work telephones to access premium rate numbers.

Departments: Early Retirement

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his staff took early retirement in the last five years; at what cost; what grades of staff took early retirement; and what percentage of each grade took early retirement.

Anne McGuire: The number of staff from the Department for Work and Pensions who took early retirement and early severance, unconnected to early retirement, in each of the last five years together with the associated cost is in Table 1. The cost and the number of each individual category is not separately identifiable.
	The grade of these staff and the percentage of each grade is in Table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Number of early retirements and severances  Total cost (£ million) 
			 2002-03 270 19.4 
			 2003-04 316 16.1 
			 2004-05 927 29.6 
			 2005-06 3,027 140.0 
			 2006-07 2,306 55.8 
			 Total 6,846 260.9 
			  Note: Staff numbers are full time equivalent (rounded) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			SCS  G6  G7  SEO  HEO  EO  AO  AA 
			 2002-03 Number of early retirements and severances 5 1 6 3 18 45 151 41 
			  Percentage of grade 2.3 0.2 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.3 
			 2003-04 Number of early retirements and severances 4 1 6 6 12 69 185 33 
			  Percentage of grade 1.8 0.2 0. 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 
			 2004-05 Number of early retirements and severances 2 7 17 21 68 230 472 110 
			  Percentage of grade 0.9 1.6 1.4 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.9 1.3 
			 2005-06 Number of early retirements and severances 8 22 50 183 565 744 1,148 307 
			  Percentage of grade 3.3 5 4.3 7.4 8.1 1.9 2.1 4.3 
			 2006-07 Number of early retirements and severances 10 10 7 36 113 634 1,215 281 
			  Percentage of grade 3.7 2.0 0.5 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.4 4.8 
			  Note: Staff numbers are full time equivalent (rounded)

Departments: Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on overnight accommodation by civil servants within his Department's areas of responsibilities in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: Within the last 12 months £11.7 million was spent on overnight accommodation by civil servants within the Department for Work and Pensions.
	This expenditure was procured through the contracted service provider. There were additional accommodation costs incurred where staff booked their own accommodation independently to the contracted service and re-claimed the costs as expenses. Identifying these costs would exceed the disproportionate threshold.

Departments: Pay

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees in his Department and its agencies are paid more than £100,000 per annum.

Anne McGuire: There are currently 62 DWP employees paid more than £100,000 per annum, including base pay and non-consolidated, non- pensionable bonuses. This represents less than 0.1 per cent of the Department's employees.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost is of all private finance initiative projects for which his Department has responsibility completed since 1997; and what the projected cost is of such projects commissioned or under way.

Anne McGuire: The Department has only one PFI route to obtain estates services under the private sector resource initiative for the management of the estate (PRIME) contract.
	PRIME is a 20-year PFI partnership deal, competitively let to Trillium (now Land Securities Trillium) on 1 April 1998 by the then Department of Social Security and expanded in 2003 to cover the former Employment Service estate. The estimated NPV for the original contract was £2.008 billion. The estimated NPV for the expansion was £1.2 billion.
	The Department currently has no plans to use PFI in new areas, but the option will be considered for future services, except IS/IT which under Government policy are not considered suitable for PFI.
	A list of all signed PFI deals with unitary charges is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.cfm

Departments: Public Transport

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what incentives he has considered to encourage staff in his Department to use public transport.

Anne McGuire: The main incentive the Department offers is interest-free loans for season tickets for travel to work. Use of public transport is encouraged by departmental policies including limited car parking, flexible working, using public transport during the course of travel and making use of travel websites and information services, such as Transport Direct. Staff are also informed about local transport initiatives and promotions. Where the location or nature of the work makes public transport use impractical for staff, car sharing is encouraged.

Departments: Racial Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which his Department is responsible have been  (a) investigated and  (b) upheld in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The information currently held centrally by the Department is the number of complaints of racial abuse investigated by the Department's central team of investigators.
	During the last 12 months (for the period July 2006-June 2007) the Department has one reported case, which is currently under investigation.

Departments: Redundancy

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees of his Department were made compulsorily redundant in each year since it was established.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 12 July 2007
	The Department for Work and Pensions was established in June 2001, bringing together the former Department of Social Security and Employment Service.
	As part of its Efficiency Programme, the Department has run a number of staff early release schemes in each year since its formation. All but two early releases under these schemes have been on a voluntary basis. One member of staff was made compulsorily redundant in December 2005; one member of staff was made compulsorily redundant in May 2007.

Departments: Redundancy

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees in each service or agency of his Department were made compulsorily redundant in each year since it was established.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was established in June 2001, bringing together the former Department of Social Security and Employment Service.
	As part of its Efficiency Programme, the Department has run a number of staff early release schemes in each year since its formation. All but two early releases under these schemes have been on a voluntary basis. One member of staff from Jobcentre Plus was made compulsorily redundant in December 2005; one member of staff from the Child Support Agency was made compulsorily redundant in May 2007.

Departments: Scotland

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the headcount target figure is for the number of employees in his Department in Scotland for 2007-08; and how many staff are in post.

Anne McGuire: Based on current plans, the Department for Work and Pensions has an overall headcount target for March 2008 of 103,468 Full Time Equivalents (FTE). There is no specific headcount target for Scotland as a whole but current work force plans indicate that staffing levels in Scotland will be in the region of 11,000 FTE by March 2008.
	As at 31 March 2007 overall staffing in the Department stood at 108,472 FTE of which 11,697 FTE were in Scotland.

Hazardous Substances: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which sites in Castle Point the Health and Safety Executive considers to be potential hazards due to storage of combustible materials; and when each was last inspected.

Anne McGuire: There are two sites within the area of Castle Point that are covered by the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 and the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) 1999 by virtue of the quantity and nature of flammable substances stored or processed on the site. These are:
	Calor Gas Ltd (last visited May 2007);
	Oikos Storage Ltd (last visited March 2007).

Incapacity Benefit: Bedfordshire

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants there were in south west Bedfordshire constituency  (a) at the latest date for which figures are available and  (b) in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 12 July 2007
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants in south west Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency 
			  Quarter ending  November each year  Number of claimants 
			 2002 2,720 
			 2003 2,860 
			 2004 2,900 
			 2005 2,820 
			 2006 2,860 
			  Notes:  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS

Natural Gas

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to make public liability insurance a legal requirement for Corgi-registered gas installers.

Anne McGuire: There are no plans to introduce legislation in this area. However, the proposed new regime for domestic gas safety, announced by the Government in March, will include provision for consideration of, and advice to HSE on, the role of public liability insurance for gas installers by the new provider of the gas installer registration scheme.

Pension Service

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps in response to the shortcomings in the Pension Service identified by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) in the report of 31 May 2007 (reference PA-3021) into the complaint of John and Jeanne Fawcett; and what steps he is taking to ensure future avoidance of similar errors.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 9 July 2007
	 The administration of the Pension Service is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Pension Service, Alexis Cleveland. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Alexis Cleveland, dated 16 July 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the steps taken in response to the Ombudsman's Report of 31 May 2007 (reference PA-3021 ) into the complaint of John and Jeanne Fawcett; and what steps he is taking to ensure future avoidance of similar errors. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of The Pension Service.
	Mr and Mrs Fawcett's complaint was a difficult and complex case and I regret that it took so long to resolve.
	The inaccurate advice was provided in 1994 through a predecessor organisation. When we receive Ombudsman reports they are forwarded to the Pension Centre manager concerned to highlight any errors and ensure the correct training is given to staff to prevent any reoccurrence. The findings of all Ombudsman cases are captured in a Lessons Learned Log issued by The Pension Service's Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration/Independent Case Examiner Focal Point. The shortcomings identified in this particular case feature in the Log and have been sent to all nominated customer service staff within our Pension Centres for cascading to staff to avoid similar errors occurring in future.
	A wide range of action has been taken to ensure staff are fully equipped to be able to provide customers with the information they need on deferring State Pension. We have also provided detailed deferral information to customers on The Pension Service website as well as in the form of posters in GPs' surgeries, Post Offices and Libraries.
	The Pension Service operates a robust three-tier process for handling complaints:
	Resolution at front line point of contact
	Resolution by Business Unit Manager
	Resolution by Chief Executive
	If the customer remains unsatisfied, from April 2007 we have introduced an Independent Case Examiner who can look at their complaint. The customer can also go to their MP, who may refer their case to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman).
	Complaints are recorded on a database to assist complaint management and provide Management Information on performance and causes of complaints. Staff are encouraged to take ownership of complaints and resolve them at the point of contact wherever possible and there are good examples of using complaint data to improve services in The Pension Service.
	I hope this is helpful.

Poverty: Children

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of children living in poverty in Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available below the level of Government office region.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) start and  (b) end date was of the Prime Minister's delivery unit's review of the Building Schools for the Future programme; and on what date a final report was produced.

Jim Knight: The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit's review of the Building Schools for the Future began in October 2006, and was concluded when the final report was issued on 16 January 2007.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will list the parties to whom the Prime Minister's delivery unit's recent review of the Building Schools for the Future programme made recommendations.

Jim Knight: The recommendations were made to DFES and HMT, as joint commissioners of the review.
	The reports and other associated documentation following joint PMDU reviews are confidential advice to Ministers and are not put into the public domain. This includes all documentation connected with the substance of the review.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) total value and  (b) estimated cost is to the public purse in each financial year until 2050 of private finance initiative contracts signed under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Jim Knight: Information on schools private finance initiative contracts, including balance sheet treatment and unitary charges, is included in HM Treasury's PFI Signed Projects List, which is available through
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.
	This is a working document containing information on current signed PFI projects. It is updated on a six-monthly basis to reflect the updates HM Treasury receives from Departments at Budget and pre-Budget report.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on progress on Building Schools for the Future.

Jim Knight: Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a hugely ambitious programme. Just three years into the programme, 49 local authorities, one third of all authorities in England, are now firmly engaged with BSF. Eight local authorities have now reached financial close, covering 65 schools and £1.1 billion worth of capital investment. There are currently 51 schools in construction, and it is anticipated that by the end of the year, a further 70 will be under way. Beyond 2010-11, we expect that around 200 new or remodelled schools will open each year.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Private Finance Initiative

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 537W, on the Building Schools for the Future programme: how much his Department has allocated in private finance initiative credits to each Building Schools for the Future project that has been agreed; and how much the local authority contributed towards the cost of each project.

Jim Knight: Initial allocations of PFI credits to support projects in Building Schools for the Future currently total £3.3 billion, and are set out as follows:
	
		
			  Local authority  PFI (£ million) 
			 Bradford 116.9 
			 Bristol 157.2 
			 Greenwich 183.5 
			 Knowsley 250.0 
			 Lancashire 246.4 
			 Leeds 185.7 
			 Leicester 151.3 
			 Lewisham 63.0 
			 Newcastle 81.4 
			 Newham 65.5 
			 Sheffield 89.0 
			 Solihull 86.8 
			 South Tyneside and Gateshead 112.6 
			 Waltham Forest 53.9 
			  Wave 1 Total 1,843.2 
			   
			 Birmingham A 92.4 
			 Islington 103.9 
			 Kingston on Hull 158.8 
			 Nottingham 66.6 
			  Wave 2 Total 421.6 
			   
			 Barnsley 324.3 
			 Durham (East) 79.5 
			 Derbyshire (NE) 55.4 
			 Kent 98.8 
			 Lewisham 102.3 
			 Salford 131.6 
			 Sandwell 59.8 
			 Southwark 40.9 
			 Tameside 96.9 
			  Wave 3 Total 989.7 
		
	
	These allocations may change as the project scopes are finalised. Full information on how much local authorities' contributions will be are not held by the Department.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Private Finance Initiative

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many schools are in the process of being  (a) built and  (b) refurbished under the Building Schools for the Future programme; and how many in each category are being built or refurbished under the private finance initiative;
	(2)  how many schools have been  (a) built and  (b) refurbished under the (i) Academies and (ii) Building Schools for the Future programme; and how many in each category were built or refurbished under the private finance initiative.

Jim Knight: Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is a core part of the Department's capital strategy, providing a new approach to capital investment in secondary schools. BSF aims to create world-class, 21st-century schools—environments which will inspire learning for decades to come and provide exceptional assets for the whole community. Subject to future public spending decisions, the intention is to achieve this aim for every secondary school pupil within 15 waves from 2005-06 onwards.
	To date, four BSF schools have been completed. Of these, three are newly built and one refurbished. None was procured under PFI arrangements.
	There are currently 51 BSF schools in construction. Of these, 30 are new build projects and 21 are refurbishment projects. Of the 30 new build schools, 23 are being procured as part of PFI schemes.
	There are 27 academies open where construction work has been completed. Of these, 22 are predominantly new build projects and five are predominantly refurbishment projects. None was procured under PFI arrangements.

Children: Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department will assume lead responsibility for policy on reducing child poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department will have a key role, alongside the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury, in delivering the Government's strategy for ending child poverty by 2020. It will lead on ensuring that there is a strong focus on services and support that will help break intergenerational cycles of poverty as well as actions that help raise this generation of families out of poverty levels of income. Budgets and activities held elsewhere in Government that support these services—for example, those for improving the quality of housing for families and for homelessness held by the Department for Communities and Local Government—will be identified and jointly managed through the programme arrangements for the child poverty target.

Children: Protection

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many individuals registered on List 99 have home addresses in Wales.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 29 June 2007
	The addresses held by the Department of individuals on List 99 were recorded at the time these people were placed on the list. Identifying the number of individuals who had home addresses in Wales at the time of listing would require individual case records to be checked and this would incur disproportionate cost.
	Once an individual is on List 99, a standard or enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure will reveal the barred status of that individual to an employer together with details of any criminal convictions. Information on an individual's address at the time of listing is not necessary in order to check whether that person is barred.

City Academies: Private Finance Initiative

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools are being  (a) built and  (b) refurbished under the Academies programme; and how many in each category are being built or refurbished under the private finance initiative.

Jim Knight: There are no Academies being built or refurbished under PFI arrangements. The level of new build and refurbishment required by an Academy is determined during the feasibility study. 48 projects have completed this feasibility study but have not yet completed construction, of these 36 are predominantly new build projects and 12 are predominantly refurbishment projects.

City Academies: Sponsorship

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance documents his Department has issued to local authorities on co-sponsorship of schools under the academies programme.

Jim Knight: The Department welcomes and values the input and influence of local authorities in academy projects as partners and/or co-sponsors. Seven local authorities are already co-sponsoring academies, including Sunderland and Kent. Where local authorities express an interest in academy sponsorship, the Academies Prospectus and general guidance on academy sponsorship are also made available.

Departments: Atkins

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) date,  (b) value and  (c) purpose was of each payment by his Department to Atkins (formerly WS Atkins) since 1997.

Jim Knight: This information could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Flags

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance he has given to schools on the flying of the Union flag on a daily basis; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: No guidance has been issued to schools on this issue. Schools are free to fly the Union flag on any day they choose, but it is for individual schools to choose whether to do so or not.

Departments: Ministerial Duties

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the departmental responsibilities are of each Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his Department's responsibilities.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the list of ministerial responsibilities which can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/aboutus/whoswho/ministersresp.shtml

Departments: Public Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his estimate is of the real terms increases in his Department's budgets for  (a) all spending,  (b) spending on schools and  (c) spending on schools capital projects for each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Spending Review settlement provided for a significant increase in DfES funding over the next three years to reach £75.5 billion by 2010-11, approximately £11 billion higher than in 2007-08. DCSF is still agreeing the exact split of budgets with DIUS so it is not possible to give an exact total for my Department's budgets at this moment. We will publish the DCSF's budget in due course.

Departments: Public Expenditure

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the education budget is for 2007-08, broken down by main budget heading; what percentage of the budget is allocated to schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: It is not possible to provide the 2007-08 education budget at present as the Department for Children, Schools and Families is still agreeing the exact split of budgets with the Department of Innovation Universities and Skills. However, the estimated plans for 2007-08 for the Department for Education and Skills can be found in Table 8.2 of the 2007 Departmental Annual Report.

Departments: Publications

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will list the departmental circulars, guidance notes and other communications sent by his Department and its predecessors to  (a) primary school head teachers and governors and  (b) secondary school head teachers and governors since 1 April 2004, indicating in each case the (i) purpose and (ii) contents of the communications; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department sends information automatically to schools in England only in exceptional cases, having stopped regular paper mailings in December 2004.
	Discussions with head teachers and detailed research showed that schools wanted to be able to choose the printed publications they needed, when they needed them, and to be able to order multiple copies.
	Instead, the Department has successfully introduced an online ordering service where schools are able to either download or order paper based copies of publications including guidance. A regular fortnightly email is sent to schools to inform them of new publications. In addition, "Spectrum" provides schools, head teachers and chairs of governors with a summary of all the latest resources, publications, guidance and regulations. It is available online and can also be requested in paper copy.
	Copies of "Teachers Magazine" are distributed to all schools six times each year. The "Governors Newsletter" is available on subscription only. Both products offer news and information, and point readers to further details available online or in other publications.
	I do not intend to make a statement. An annual report is presented to Parliament each year, listing the documents sent from the Department and its agencies to all schools.

Departments: Publications

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will list the data releases planned to be made by his Department over the next 12 months; what the expected date is of each; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The readily available information relates to the release of National Statistics publications. No record is centrally held of all data releases. The process for setting dates for National Statistics publications runs on a six-monthly cycle with dates being set in March and September for the following six months (firm commitments) and the six months after that (expected publications). In the run-up to each separate month, exact dates are set for publications in that month. The date setting process is managed by the Department's Head of Profession for Statistics and the published Compliance Statement can be found at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/nat-stats.shtml
	The following table lists the statistical first release (SFRs) and statistical bulletins that will be issued from now through to September 2007. The exact dates for August and September have not been set, other than for the attainment publications which have fixed dates agreed in advance. The list replicates the original pre-announced schedule of publications published in March 2007 which can be found at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000720/index.shtml
	and as such contains publications which have now transferred to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
	
		
			Publication 
			 24 July 2007 SFR: Children accommodated in secure children's homes, year ending 31 March 2007 England and Wales 
			 August 2007 SFR: National curriculum assessments at key stage 2 in England, 2007 (provisional). This SFR will be published on the first Tuesday in August (7 August 2007) 
			  SFR: National curriculum assessments at key stage 3 in England, 2007 (provisional). This SFR will be published on the second Tuesday in August (14 August 2007) 
			  SFR: National curriculum assessments at key stage 1 in England, 2007. This SFR will be published on the last Thursday in August (30 August 2007) 
			  Bulletin: School destinations of secondary school pupils resident in London boroughs, 2007 (internet only). 
			 September 2007 SFR: Schools and pupils in England: January 2007 (final) 
			  SFR: School work force in England (including pupil: teacher ratios and pupil: adult ratios), January 2007 (revised) 
			  SFR: Referrals, assessments and children and young people who are the subjects of child protection plans: year ending 31 March 2007 
			  SFR: Children looked after in England (including adoptions and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007 
			  Volume: Higher education statistics for the UK: 2005-06(1) 
			 (1) Prepared and published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, in consultation with DIUS statisticians. 
		
	
	The following statistical first releases (SFRs), statistical bulletins and statistical volumes are provisionally scheduled to appear in the following six months from October 2007 to March 2008.
	
		
			Publication 
			 October 2007 SFR: GCSE and equivalent results in England, 2006-07 (provisional). This SFR will be published on the third Thursday in October (18 October 2007) 
			  SFR: GCE/VCE A/AS and equivalent examination results in England, 2006-07 (provisional). This SFR will be published on the third Thursday in October (18 October 2007) 
			  SFR: Foundation stage profile 2007: national results (provisional) 
			  SFR: Neighbourhood statistics—announcement of the release of small area national curriculum assessment, GCSE and equivalent attainment and post-16 attainment by pupil characteristics in England, 2005-06 
			 November 2007 SFR: Private fostering arrangements in England, year ending 31 March 2007 
			  SFR: Youth cohort study: the activities and experiences of 19 year olds: England and Wales 2007 
			  SFR: National curriculum assessment, GCSE and equivalent attainment and post-16 attainment by pupil characteristics in England 2006-07 (provisional) 
			  SFR: Student support for higher education in England, academic year 2007-08 (provisional)(2) 
			  Volume: Education and training statistics for the United Kingdom: 2007 (internet only) 
			 December 2007 SFR: Further education, work-based learning and adult and community learning—learner numbers in England: 2006-07(3) 
			  SFR: National curriculum assessments at key stage 2 and key stage 1 to key stage 2 value added measures in England 2006-07 (revised) 
			 January 2008 SFR: GCE/VCE A/AS and equivalent examination results in England, 2006-07 (revised) 
			  SFR: GCSE and equivalent results and associated value added measures in England, 2006-07 (revised) 
			  SFR: Higher education enrolments and qualifications obtained at higher education institutions in the UK in the academic year 2006-07(1) 
			  SFR: Foundation stage profile 2007 national results (final) 
			 February 2008 SFR: Level 2 and 3 attainment by young people in England measured using matched administrative data: attainment by age 19 in 2007 ( provisional) 
			  SFR: Vocational qualifications in the UK: 2006-07 
			  SFR: Pupil absence in schools in England, 2006-07 
			  SFR: National curriculum assessments at key stage 3 and key stage 2 to key stage 3 value added for young people in England, 2006/-07 (revised) 
			  SFR The level of highest qualification held by adults: England 2007 
			 March 2008 SFR: Further education, work-based learning and personal and community development learning—learner numbers in England on 1 October 2007(3) 
			  SFR: Participation rates in higher education: academic years 1999-2000 to 2006-07 (provisional) 
			  Volume: Children looked after by local authorities year ending 31 March 2007 (internet only) 
			 (2) Prepared and published by Student Loans Company, in consultation with DIUS statisticians. (3) Prepared and published by the Learning Skills Council in consultation with DCSF and DIUS statisticians.

Departments: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what priorities have been set for his Department by the Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families set out his priorities in a statement to the House on 10 July 2007.

Education: Children

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children did not reach a good level of development at the end of the Foundation Stage, defined as a score of six points on all the assessment scales for personal, social and emotional development and communication, language and literacy of the Foundation Stage Profile, in the latest period for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 12 July 2007
	The latest figures for 2006 indicate that 56 per cent. of children in maintained schools were not achieving a good level of development, defined as a score in the Foundation Stage profile of a minimum of 6 points in each of the assessment scales relating to the two key areas of communication, language and literacy and personal, social and emotional development. This estimate is subject to a margin of statistical sampling error as the figures were derived from a sample of individual child records submitted by each local authority. The level of sampling error calculated by analysts within my Department indicates a probability of 0.95 that the true value will be between 55.5 per cent. and 56.4 per cent.
	The latest figures on the percentage of children on the Foundation Stage Profile were published in a Statistical First Release (SFR) 03/2007 "Foundation Stage Profile 2006: National Results" on 25 January 2007. A copy of this release is available on my Department's website at:
	www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway

Education: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was allocated for capital expenditure on education in Tamworth in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Allocations of capital expenditure are made on a local authority rather than a constituency basis, and central records are maintained by local authority. Capital allocations to Staffordshire in each year since 1997, including Tamworth, are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 1997-98 7.4 
			 1998-99 28.4 
			 1999-2000 18.5 
			 2000-01 34.1 
			 2001-02 27.4 
			 2002-03 32.9 
			 2003-04 35.5 
			 2004-05 41.1 
			 2005-06 29.2 
			 2006-07 41.2 
			 2008-08 33.2 
		
	
	In recent years, the £41.1 million allocated in 2004-05 includes targeted capital funding (TCP) of £3.6 million, and the £41.2 million in 2006-07 TCP of £8.7 million.

Education: Young People

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of  (a) 16 year olds,  (b) 17 year olds and  (c) 18 year olds were in full-time education or training in each year from 1997 to 2007.

Jim Knight: The figures provided in the table are for 16, 17 and 18-year-olds in 'total education and training' in each year from 1997 to 2007 in England, and will include some learners in part-time training.
	
		
			  Young people in education and training in England 
			  Percentage 
			   16  17  18 
			 1997 86.9 80.3 62.7 
			 1998 86.3 80.2 62.1 
			 1999 87.1 80.9 62.4 
			 2000 86.4 80.5 62.3 
			 2001 85.7 78.3 61.1 
			 2002 86.4 78.4 60.7 
			 2003 86.9 79.5 60.6 
			 2004 87.6 79.6 60.7 
			 2005 88.7 80.3 61.5 
			 2006 (provisional) 89.7 81.5 61.1 
		
	
	Where 'total education and training' includes those in full-time education (maintained schools, further education, higher education), LSC funded work-based learning (minus WBL in full-time education), employer funded training and other education and training.

Faith Schools: Admissions

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  if he will bring forward measures to abolish the practice of maintained faith schools of giving priority to children on the grounds of religious belief and practice in admissions criteria; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the legal basis is for maintained schools to give priority in their admissions arrangements and criteria to children on the grounds of religious belief and practice.

Jim Knight: holding answer 11 July 2007
	We have no plans to prevent faith schools that are oversubscribed from giving priority in admissions to children of their faith. Faith schools play an important role in ensuring diversity of provision and there is a high demand for faith-based education from parents.
	It is unlawful under section 49 of the Equality Act 2006 for a school to discriminate against a child on the grounds of his religion or belief in the terms on which it offers to admit him or by refusing to accept an application for a place. However, schools designated as having a religious character under section 69 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 are exempt from this prohibition by virtue of section 50 of the Equality Act 2006 and may, therefore, give priority, when oversubscribed, to children on the basis that they are members of or practise their faith.

Faith Schools: Finance

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of its  (a) revenue and  (b) capital funding each maintained secondary school designated as having a particular religious character or ethos, and which gives priority in admissions on such grounds, received from the public purse in 2006-07.

Jim Knight: Schools with a religious character receive their revenue funding from local authorities on the same basis as other maintained schools. It is a matter for each local authority—in consultation with their Schools Forums—to determine the level of funding between different providers, based on an assessment of local circumstances.
	Capital funding for schools with a religious character depends on their category. Voluntary controlled and foundation schools with a religious character receive their capital funding from local authorities.
	The governing bodies of voluntary aided schools are responsible for capital expenditure at their schools, normally supported by grant from the Secretary of State.
	I shall arrange for details of capital grant paid by the Secretary of State to the governing bodies of voluntary aided schools, over 93 per cent. of which have a religious character, to be placed in the Library of the House. The Government do not collect data on capital expenditure on individual schools by local authorities and governing bodies.

Financial Services: Curriculum

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether financial education in schools will be delivered through personal, social and health education; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Opportunities for the teaching and learning of financial capability occur across the curriculum. It is for schools to decide how to organise their provision but commonly it is delivered through personal social and health education (PSHE) or across subject areas including maths, citizenship, business studies and enterprise education. My Department has published curriculum guidance for all key stages to help teachers identify where financial capability sits within the curriculum and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has published units of work to help teachers with lesson planning and assessment of pupil progress.
	The revised curriculum for secondary schools, launched last week, includes a new dedicated programme of study for "Economic Well Being and Financial Capability" as part of a revised personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. The new curriculum will begin teaching from September 2008 and will add a new focus on financial education in schools. We are revising curriculum guidance for schools in light of these changes and will publish the updated guidance in due course.

Foster Care: Gravesend

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many foster parents are required in the Gravesham area to meet current demand for placements.

Kevin Brennan: Data on the number of foster parents which are required in the Gravesham area to meet the current demand for placements are not collected centrally by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

Further Education: Departmental Responsibilities

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which aspects of further education in England are the responsibility of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department will take on responsibility for policy and funding for the education of children and young people up to age 19 from the Department for Education and Skills. Sponsorship of the FE service will sit with the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Both Departments will work closely together to ensure strategic objectives and policy pre and post-19 are coherent and consistent.

GCE A Level

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what records his Department holds on the number of students at  (a) state comprehensive schools,  (b) state grammar schools,  (c) state secondary modern schools,  (d) other state secondary schools,  (e) further education colleges,  (f) state sixth form colleges and  (g) independent schools and colleges who were taking at least two A-levels in the last four years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The Department holds two different records on the achievement of Advanced level qualifications. The first is a list of candidates who have been entered for any Level 3 qualification during the academic year and the second is a list of all Level 3 qualification entries and the grades awarded for these. There are common variables on each list that allow them to be linked together to determine which qualifications were taken by each candidate.
	The Department uses this information to publish the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables, and from this exercise, figures for the number of candidates taking at least one A-level or equivalent are readily available and are presented in the following table.
	
		
			  16 to 18-year-olds attempting at least one GCE/VCE A-level or VCE Double Award in summer of academic year 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Comprehensive schools 111,565 113,013 116,452 116,545 
			 Selective schools 18,844 19,322 19,980 20,057 
			 Modern schools 3,490 3,416 3,805 3,966 
			 Other maintained schools 33 292 309 304 
			 Independent schools 34,106 34,846 33,586 33,763 
			 Sixth form colleges 47,821 47,738 49,913 50,093 
			 Other FE sector colleges 52,812 46,630 39,590 33,563 
			 All schools and colleges 268,671 265,257 263,635 258,291 
		
	
	Figures for those taking two or more A-levels are not readily available and can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils in maintained mainstream schools who gained  (a) five,  (b) six,  (c) seven,  (d) eight and  (e) nine or more good GCSEs in 2006 gained (i) five, (ii) four and (iii) three C grades.

Jim Knight: This information can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Gender

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the reasons for girls performing on average more highly than boys in GCSE examinations; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Girls have out-performed boys since GCSE examinations were introduced in 1988. In 2006 63.4 per cent. of girls and 53.8 per cent. of boys achieved five plus A*-C grade GCSEs. Girls are ahead of boys at all stages of education from early years and foundation onwards. The gap in England has been broadly stable over two decades, and is in line with that in other OECD countries.
	The reasons are complex but appear mainly related to biological differences, differences in maturation, and differences in attitudes to learning and reading at different ages. The Department's recently published research paper "Gender and education: the evidence on pupils in England", of which there is a copy in the Library of the House, sets out the research evidence.
	Two points should however be noted: first, boys' GCSE attainment has improved sharply over the past decade, broadly keeping pace with that of girls; second, gender gaps can be minimised by good teaching practice and by the encouragement of reading, ensuring that pupils of both genders make good progress.
	The Department is planning a programme of school-level investigations and action research activities designed to identify good practice in raising boys' motivation and attainment, particularly in the field of literacy. This will build on existing Departmental initiatives such as "Boys Into Books", which has enabled every state-funded secondary school to select for its library 20 free books targeted at teenage boys. It will also feed into the forthcoming National Year of Reading which will promote reading both for leisure and school attainment purposes.

Grammar Schools

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will list the grammar schools in England as at 1 January 2007, broken down by local education authority.

Jim Knight: There are 164 grammar schools in England, as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  LA name  School names 
			 Barnet (3) The Henrietta Barnett School 
			  Queen Elizabeth's School 
			  St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 
			   
			 Bexley (4) Bexley Grammar School 
			  Townley Grammar School for Girls 
			  Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School 
			  Beths Grammar School 
			   
			 Birmingham (8) Sutton Coldfield Girls' School 
			  Bishop Vesey's Grammar School 
			  Handsworth Grammar School 
			  King Edward VI Handsworth School 
			  King Edward VI Five Ways School 
			  King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls' School 
			  King Edward VI Camp Hill School (Boys) 
			  King Edward VI Aston School 
			   
			 Bournemouth (2) Bournemouth School 
			  Bournemouth School for Girls 
			   
			 Bromley (2) Newstead Wood School for Girls 
			  St. Olave's and St. Saviour's Grammar School 
			   
			 Buckinghamshire (13) John Hampden Grammar School 
			  Burnham Grammar School 
			  Aylesbury High School 
			  Dr. Challoner's High School 
			  Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School 
			  Chesham High School 
			  Aylesbury Grammar School 
			  The Royal Latin School 
			  Wycombe High School 
			  Dr. Challoner's Grammar School 
			  Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 
			  Beaconsfield High School 
			  Royal Grammar School 
			   
			 Calderdale (2) The North Halifax Grammar School 
			  Crossley Heath School 
			   
			 Cumbria (1) Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School 
			   
			 Devon (1) Colyton Grammar School 
			   
			 Enfield (1) The Latymer School 
			   
			 Essex (4) Chelmsford County High School for Girls 
			  King Edward VI Grammar School 
			  Colchester Royal Grammar School 
			  Colchester County High School for Girls 
			   
			 Gloucestershire (7) Sir Thomas Rich's School 
			  High School for Girls 
			  Ribston Hall High School 
			  Marling School 
			  Stroud High School 
			  Pate's Grammar School 
			  The Crypt School 
			   
			 Kent (33) Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School 
			  Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 
			  Weald of Kent Grammar School 
			  Invicta Grammar School 
			  Highsted School 
			  Highworth Grammar School for Girls 
			  The Harvey Grammar School 
			  Dover Grammar School for Girls 
			  Clarendon House Grammar School 
			  Maidstone Grammar School 
			  Maidstone Grammar School for Girls 
			  Borden Grammar School 
			  The Norton Knatchbull School 
			  Simon Langton Girls' School 
			  The Judd School 
			  The Grammar School for Girls Wilmington 
			  Wilmington Grammar School for Boys 
			  Dartford Grammar School 
			  Dartford Grammar School for Girls 
			  Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys 
			  Cranbrook School 
			  The Skinners' School 
			  Oakwood Park Grammar School 
			  Sir Roger Manwood's School 
			  The Folkestone School for Girls 
			  Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls 
			  Barton Court Grammar School 
			  Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School 
			  Dover Grammar School for Boys 
			  Dane Court Grammar School 
			  Chatham House Grammar School for Boys 
			  Gravesend Grammar School for Boys 
			  Gravesend Grammar School for Girls 
			   
			 Kingston upon Thames (2) The Tiffin Girls' School 
			  Tiffin School 
			   
			 Kirklees(1) Heckmondwike Grammar School 
			   
			 Lancashire (4) Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School 
			  Lancaster Royal Grammar School 
			  Lancaster Girls' Grammar School 
			  Clitheroe Royal Grammar School 
			   
			 Lincolnshire (15) Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School 
			  Kesteven and Sleaford High School 
			  Boston High School for Girls 
			  Spalding High School 
			  Queen Elizabeth's High School 
			  Bourne Grammar School 
			  Spalding Grammar School 
			  Skegness Grammar School 
			  Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School 
			  The King's School 
			  Carre's Grammar School 
			  King Edward VI School 
			  Caistor Grammar School 
			  The Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School—Horncastle 
			  Boston Grammar School 
			   
			 Liverpool (1) The Liverpool Blue Coat School 
			   
			 Medway Towns (6) Chatham Boys' Grammar School 
			  Fort Pitt Grammar School 
			  Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School 
			  Rainham Mark Grammar School 
			  Chatham Girls' Grammar School 
			  The Rochester Girls' Grammar School 
			 North Yorkshire (3) Ripon Grammar School 
			  Skipton Girls' High School 
			  Ermysted's Grammar School 
			   
			 Poole (2) Parkstone Grammar School (Girls) 
			  Poole Grammar School 
			   
			 Plymouth (3) Devonport High School for Girls 
			  Plymouth High School for Girls 
			  Devonport High School for Boys 
			   
			 Reading (2) Reading School 
			  Kendrick Girls Grammar School 
			   
			 Redbridge (2) Ilford County High School 
			  Woodford County High School 
			   
			 Stoke-on-Trent (1) St. Joseph's College 
			   
			 Slough (4) St. Bernard's Convent School 
			  Langley Grammar School 
			  Herschel Grammar School 
			  Slough Grammar School 
			   
			 Southend (4) Westcliff High School for Boys 
			  Westcliff High School for Girls 
			  Southend High School for Girls 
			  Southend High School for Boys 
			   
			 Sutton (5) Wilson's School 
			  Nonsuch High School for Girls 
			  Sutton Grammar School for Boys 
			  Wallington High School for Girls 
			  Wallington County Grammar School 
			   
			 Torbay (3) Torquay Grammar School for Girls 
			  Churston Grammar School 
			  Torquay Boys' Grammar School 
			   
			 Trafford (7) Altrincham Grammar School for Girls 
			  Stretford Grammar School 
			  Urmston Grammar School 
			  Sale Grammar School 
			  Altrincham Grammar School for Boys 
			  St. Ambrose College 
			  Loreto Grammar School 
			   
			 Telford and Wrekin (2) Newport Girls' High School 
			  Adams' Grammar School 
			   
			 Walsall (2) Queen Mary's High School 
			  Queen Mary's Grammar School 
			 Warwickshire (5) Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls 
			  King Edward VI Grammar School 
			  Lawrence Sheriff School 
			  Rugby High School for Girls 
			  Alcester Grammar School 
			   
			 Wiltshire (2) South Wilts Grammar School for Girls 
			  Bishop Wordsworth's Grammar School 
			   
			 Wirral (6) Wirral County Grammar School (Girls) 
			  West Kirby Grammar School for Girls 
			  Calday Grange Grammar School 
			  Wirral Grammar School for Boys 
			  St. Anselm's College 
			  Upton Hall Convent School FCJ 
			   
			 Wolverhampton (1) Wolverhampton Girls' High School

Local Education Authorities: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the performance of local education authorities in England; which authorities have been assessed by his Department as having unsatisfactory performance; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The performance of local authorities and their partners in improving outcomes for children and young people is assessed by Ofsted and other inspectorates. Since 2005, they have made an annual performance assessment of children's services in each local authority, and have been undertaking a programme of joint area reviews which will include every local authority area in England once between 2005 and 2008. Ofsted's April 2007 publication "Narrowing the Gap: The Inspection of Children's Services" found an improving picture, with children's services in 107 out of the 139 authorities covered by the report making a good or excellent contribution towards delivering better outcomes for children and young people.
	A number of areas have been assessed, by either an annual performance assessment or a joint area review, to be making an inadequate contribution to improving one or more aspects of children's services. They are Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Herefordshire, Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Medway, North East Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Sandwell, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Thurrock.
	The Government support and challenge all local authorities to improve their performance, with activity co-ordinated through the appropriate Government Office. Where a local authority is failing to perform functions to an adequate standard, the Secretary of State will, as a last resort, consider use of his statutory powers to secure the proper performance of functions. This can include directing that functions are performed in a particular way or by a specified person on behalf of the authority.

Partnerships for Schools: City Academies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which academies that  (a) have opened have been and  (b) are under development will be delivered through Partnerships for Schools.

Jim Knight: 47 Academies are now open; of these 27 have completed construction. None of these buildings were delivered/are being delivered by Partnerships for Schools (PfS). We expect that all Academies which have yet to enter into development will be delivered by PfS. There are currently 100 academies in development. 55 of these buildings are being delivered through PfS and these are:
	Birmingham, an Academy to replace Heartlands
	Birmingham, a new Academy in the East
	Birmingham, an Academy to replace Shenley Court
	Bolton, an Academy to replace Withins
	The Stadium Academy, Brent
	Palmer Academy, Brighton
	Oasis Academy, Bristol
	The Bristol Brunei Academy, Bristol
	Colston's Girls' Academy, Bristol
	Swanswell, Coventry
	Cumbria, an Academy to replace Ehenside
	Cumbria, an Academy to replace North Cumbria
	Eastbourne Church of England Academy, Darlington
	Derbyshire, an Academy to replace Shirebrook
	Essex, an Academy in East Basildon
	Essex, a second Academy in East Basildon
	Hackney Skinners Academy
	Hammersmith and Fulham Academy
	Herefordshire, an Academy to replace Wyebridge
	Isle of Sheppey, Kent
	Kent, an Academy to replace Cornwallis
	Kent, an Academy to replace Oldborough
	Lancashire, an Academy to replace Accrington Moorhead
	Lincolnshire, an Academy to replace Priory, Joseph Rushton, City of Lincoln
	Lincolnshire, a second Academy to replace Priory, Joseph Rushton, City of Lincoln
	Barnfield West Academy, Luton
	Barnfield South Academy, Luton
	Manchester Digital Communications Academy
	Manchester Construction and the Built Environment Academy
	Manchester Creative Media Academy
	Manchester Finance and Professional Service Academy
	Manchester Business Enterprise Academy
	Manchester Health Academy
	Milton Keynes, an Academy to replace Sir Frank Markham
	The Open Academy, Norfolk
	Havelock Academy, North East Lincolnshire
	North Lincolnshire, an Academy to replace High Ridge
	Hirst Academy, Northumberland
	Nottingham Bulwell Academy
	The Samworth University Academy, Nottingham
	The Samworth Church Academy, Nottinghamshire
	The Oxford Academy
	St Anne's Academy, Rochdale
	Salford, an Academy to replace Hope High
	Shireland Collegiate Academy, Sandwell
	George Salter Collegiate Academy, Sandwell
	Walworth Academy, Southwark
	St Michael's and All Angels CofE, Southwark
	St Helens, an Academy to replace St Aelred's
	Pennywell/Quarry View Academy, Sunderland
	Castle view Academy, Sunderland
	Red House Academy, Sunderland
	New Charter Academy, Tameside
	Telford and Wrekin, an Academy to replace Abraham Darby
	Wellesley Academy, Wiltshire

Partnerships for Schools: City Academies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent by the Department for Education and Skills to Partnerships for Schools asking it to take on the delivery of academies.

Jim Knight: The announcement that Partnerships for Schools (PfS) would take on delivery of the academies buildings programme was made on 23 March 2006 by written statement in the House of Commons and House of Lords,  Official Report, column 28WS. This was then consolidated as part of the PfS business plan which is agreed with the Department.

Performing Arts: Licensing

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the entertainment industry on the effectiveness of child performance licensing by local authorities;
	(2)  what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on child performance licensing.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has not had recent discussions with the entertainment industry on the effectiveness of child performance licensing by local authorities and has not issued guidance to local authorities on child performance licensing. Local authorities are responsible for licensing children who take part in performances, and for the enforcement of child performance legislation.

Playing Fields: Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what area of school playing fields in  (a) England,  (b) the North West and  (c) Ribble Valley has been sold in the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: Since October 1998 the Secretary of State has approved 187 applications that involve the sale of an area of land capable of forming a sports pitch of at least 0.2 hectares at schools in England. Of these 89 were in respect of closed schools. The number of these at schools in the north-west is 34 (16 of these at closed schools). There have not been any applications approved that involve the sale of a sports pitch at a school in Ribble Valley. Prior to October 1998 there was no regulation of the sale of school playing fields at local authority schools.
	Data on school playing fields were supplied to the Department by local authorities in 2001 and 2003. However, because the data were incomplete, it is not possible to assess accurately the number and area of school playing fields.

Primary Education: Class Sizes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of Key Stage 2 pupils are in classes of 30 pupils or more.

Jim Knight: In January 2007, 23 per cent. of Key Stage 2 pupils were in one-teacher classes of 30 pupils or more.

Primary Education: Mathematics

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children achieved  (a) level 4 and above and  (b) level 5 in Key Stage 2 (i) mathematics, (ii) English and (iii) science in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Primary standards are at their highest levels ever. Since 1997 there have been significant improvements in the percentage of pupils achieving level 4 and level 5 in the National Curriculum tests.
	Last year 79 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieved the target level 4 or above in English and 76 per cent. did so in maths. In 1997 less than two thirds of 11-year-olds reached this level in either subject (63 per cent. in English and 62 per cent. in maths). The proportion of 11-year-olds reaching level 5 has doubled in English since 1997—in 2006 32 per cent. reached this level compared with just 16 per cent. in 1997 and 33 per cent. did so in mathematics compared with 18 per cent. in 1997.
	The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils at KS2 achieving level 4 or above and level 5 or above, 1995-2006—Key Stage 2 
			   Percentage at Level 4 or above  Percentage at Level 5 or above 
			  English   
			 1995 49 7 
			 1996 57 12 
			 1997 63 16 
			 1998 65 17 
			 1999 71 22 
			 2000 75 29 
			 2001 75 29 
			 2002 75 29 
			 2003 75 27 
			 2004 78 27 
			 2005 79 27 
			 2006 79 32 
			
			  Mathematics   
			 1995 45 13 
			 1996 54 14 
			 1997 62 18 
			 1998 59 17 
			 1999 69 24 
			 2000 72 25 
			 2001 71 25 
			 2002 73 28 
			 2003 73 29 
			 2004 74 31 
			 2005 75 31 
			 2006 76 33 
			
			  Science   
			 1995 70 22 
			 1996 62 14 
			 1997 69 19 
			 1998 69 16 
			 1999 78 27 
			 2000 85 34 
			 2001 87 34 
			 2002 86 38 
			 2003 87 41 
			 2004 86 43 
			 2005 86 47 
			 2006 87 46 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for 2006 are based on revised data. Figures for all other years are based on final data. 2. Levels W and 1 were valid in 1995 and 1996 only. Level 6 was valid from 1995-2002 only.

Primary Education: Mathematics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  if the review of primary and early years mathematics teaching led by Sir Peter Williams will carry out a systematic review or meta-analysis of research literature on mathematics learning;
	(2)  if he will list the members of the review of primary and early years mathematics teaching led by Sir Peter Williams;
	(3)  whether the review of primary and early years mathematics teaching led by Sir Peter Williams will examine the curriculum standards of foreign countries that outperform England in international comparisons;
	(4)  whether the review of primary and early years mathematics teaching led by Sir Peter Williams will make recommendations on the content of the  (a) primary mathematics curriculum and  (b) primary national strategy;
	(5)  how much funding has been allocated to the review of primary and early years mathematics teaching led by Sir Peter Williams;
	(6)  when he expects the review of primary and early years mathematics teaching led by Sir Peter Williams to issue an  (a) interim and  (b) final report;
	(7)  what the terms of reference are of the review of primary and early years mathematics teaching led by Sir Peter Williams.

Jim Knight: The maths review will cover all of primary mathematics teaching up to the end of Key Stage 2 and will also look at the teaching of problem solving, reasoning and numeracy to 3 to 5-year-olds, as defined in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
	Through examination of the available evidence including international best practice and through engagement with the teaching profession, the review will consider and make recommendations in the following areas:
	What is the most effective pedagogy of maths teaching in primary schools and early years settings. That consideration will include instructional methodologies, teaching and learning strategies, and lesson designs that are most effective in helping children to progress in their learning.
	What range of provision best supports children across the full ability range, including the most gifted. The highest priority will be given to those who are not progressing fast enough to reach national expectations. The review will specifically make recommendations to inform the development of an early (age 5 to 7) intervention programme for children who are failing to master the basics of numeracy—"Every Child Counts".
	What conceptual and subject knowledge of mathematics should be expected of primary school teachers and early years practitioners, and how should initial teaching training and continuing professional development be improved to secure that knowledge.
	What is the most effective design and sequencing of the design and sequencing of the mathematics curriculum. Recommendations in this area will inform a future review of the primary curriculum as a whole.
	How should parents and families best be helped to support young children's mathematical development.
	The review will build on the recent renewal of the primary framework for mathematics and the EYFS.
	The review will start in September with an interim report being produced in March and a final report published in June 2008.
	We will discuss further details of the conduct of the review as well as potential advisers and funding implications with Sir Peter Williams in due course.
	A copy of the letter from the Secretary of State to Sir Peter Williams, setting out the terms of reference for the review, has been placed in the House Libraries.

Private Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children were educated in independent schools in each year from 1997 to 2007.

Jim Knight: The available information is contained in the following table. These figures are based on children of all ages.
	
		
			  Proportion of children( 1)  who have been educated in independent schools( 2) 
			   Percentage 
			 1997 6.74 
			 1998 6.73 
			 1999 6.72 
			 2000 6.72 
			 2001 6.80 
			 2002 6.91 
			 2003 6.97 
			 2004 7.04 
			 2005 7.01 
			 2006 7.07 
			 2007 7.09 
			 (1) Excludes dually registered pupils.  (2) Excludes CTCs and academies.   Source:  Schools' Census

Private Education: Playing Fields

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the average area is of playing fields per school for independent schools in  (a) the North West and  (b) England;
	(2)  what the average area is of playing fields per school for state schools in  (a) the North West and  (b) England.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not held centrally. Data on state school playing fields were supplied to the Department by local authorities in 2001 and 2003. However, because the data were incomplete, it is not possible to assess accurately the number and area of school playing fields.

Pupil Exclusions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the major causes were of permanent exclusions from English schools in the latest 12 months for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The available information is contained in the following table. Information is not collected for primary schools.
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools( 1, 2) : number and percentage of permanent and fixed period exclusions by reason for exclusion: England, 2005/06 
			   Number of permanent exclusions( 3)  Percentage of all permanent exclusions( 3, 4)  Number of fixed period exclusions  Percentage of all fixed period exclusions( 4) 
			 Physical assault against a pupil 1,260 16 62,670 18 
			 Physical assault against an adult 740 9 8,240 2 
			 Verbal abuse/ threatening behaviour against a pupil 330 4 12,730 4 
			 Verbal abuse/ threatening behaviour against an adult 900 11 79,370 23 
			 Bullying 80 1 5,270 2 
			 Racist abuse 30 0 3,370 1 
			 Sexual misconduct 110 1 2,620 1 
			 Drug and alcohol related 450 6 8,360 2 
			 Damage 170 2 9,390 3 
			 Theft 220 3 7,770 2 
			 Persistent disruptive behaviour 2,370 30 72,340 21 
			 Other 1,340 17 71,720 21 
			 Total (5) 7,990 100 343,840 100 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2 )For the 2005/06 school year, information on the reason for exclusion was collected via the School Census for the first time for secondary schools only (the Termly Exclusions Survey has discontinued). For exclusions during 2006/07, information on the reason for exclusion will also be collected from primary and special schools. (3 )Estimates based on incomplete pupil level data. (4 )The number of exclusions by reason expressed as a percentage of the total number of exclusions. (5 )There were two permanent and four fixed period exclusions for which circumstance were not known—these were included in the 'total' column only.  Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  School Census 
		
	
	This table was published as part of the recent Statistical First Release on exclusions which can be found at
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000733/index.shtml.

Pupils: Medical Treatments

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the provision by schools of emergency medical treatment for pupils; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what  (a) representations and  (b) reports he has received on the (i) implementation, (ii) effectiveness and (iii) adequacy of supporting materials of the document Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of arrangements to duplicate sets of emergency medication for children deemed at risk of medical emergency; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We have issued guidelines on, but do not assess, English schools' provision of first aid and their management of prescribed medicines, including duplicate sets, for pupils whose health might suffer without routine medication during the school day. Our guidance 'Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings' signposts school staff and parents to information provided by the four leading charities for anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy, with whom my officials meet regularly.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his estimate is of the average level of funding per pupil in  (a) state funded secondary schools and  (b) private sector day schools in each year since 1990-91; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information is as follows:
	 Average level of funding per pupil in (a) state funded secondary schools
	The average revenue funding figures per pupil aged 11 to 15 for years 1997-98 to 2005-06 are as follows. These figures are in real terms. Comparable figures are not available for 1990-91 to 1996-97.
	
		
			   Secondary (11 to 15-year-olds) 
			 1997-98 3,390 
			 1998-99 3,470 
			 1999-2000 3,610 
			 2000-01 3,900 
			 2001-02 4,110 
			 2002-03 4,210 
			 2003-04 4,280 
			 2004-05 4,450 
			 2005-06 4,640 
			  Notes: 1.  Price Base: Real terms at 2005-06 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 27 September 2006.  2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of Standard Spending Assessment/Education Formula Spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS.  3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 11 to 15 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level.  4. The pupil numbers used to convert m figures to per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations.  5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.  6. Status: Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 
		
	
	The revenue per pupil figures shown in the following table are taken from the new dedicated schools grant (DSG) and are in cash terms. They are not comparable with those for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06 because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded. As the DSG is just a mechanism for distributing funding there is not a primary/secondary split available. The figures are for all funded pupils aged three to 15.
	
		
			  DSG  
			 2005-06 Baseline 3,411 
			 2006-07 3,643 
			 2007-08 3,888 
		
	
	 Average level of funding per pupil for (b) private sector day schools
	Data for part  (b) are not collected by the Department. However, the Independent Schools Council Census provides indications of average termly fees, in real terms based on 2005-06 prices, for day pupils as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  (b) Average Fees for Day Pupils in Independent Schools 
			  ISC Census  Academic Year  Termly fees  Annual fees (termly fees *3) 
			 1989/90 1,621 4,864 
			 1990/91 1,691 5,072 
			 1991/92 1,803 5,409 
			 1992/93 1,894 5,682 
			 1993/94 1,885 5,655 
			 1994/95 1,936 5,809 
			 1995/96 1,996 5,989 
			 1996/97 2,026 6,077 
			 1997/98 2,074 6,223 
			 1998/99 2,146 6,437 
			 1999/2000 2,242 6,726 
			 2000/01 2,360 7,079 
			 2001/02 2,486 7,457 
			 2002/03 2,584 7,752 
			 2003/04 2,764 8,291 
			 2004/05 2,852 8,555 
			 2005/06 2,980 8,940 
			 2006/07 3,123 9,368

Pupils: Questionnaires

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the Government's policy is on asking 10-year-olds about drink and drugs in official surveys.

Jim Knight: The Government are committed to reducing substance misuse-related harm among young people. We know that some young people begin to experiment with smoking, alcohol and drugs at an early age. We also know that, the earlier they start to use drugs and alcohol frequently, the more likelihood there is of long-term harm. Understanding the extent of young people's use of drugs and alcohol at a local level is key to identifying problems early and providing effective prevention.
	The Tellus survey conducted by Ofsted asks year 6 (age 10) primary school pupils about smoking and alcohol use, but does not ask about illicit drug use until pupils are in secondary school.

Pupils: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent per pupil in Tamworth in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The requested information is allocated to local authorities and not at constituency level. The Tamworth constituency is part of Staffordshire LA. The revenue funding figures per pupil in Staffordshire in each year since 1997 are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Staffordshire 
			   £ 
			   Revenue funding per pupil 
			 1997-98 2,310 
			 1998-99 2,480 
			 1999-2000 2,510 
			 2000-01 2,650 
			 2001-02 2,940 
			 2002-03 3,100 
			 2003-04 3,360 
			 2004-05 3,660 
			 2005-06 4,040 
			  Notes: 1. The combined LA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA). A sector breakdown for combined LA and school based expenditure is not available from 2002-03 and consequently this table shows the total LA recurrent expenditure (except youth and community) per pupil by LA since 1995-96. 2. 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the R01 form collected by the ODPM to the section 52 outturn forms collected by the DfES. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of consistent financial reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the line. 3. Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under-fives funded by the LA and being educated in private settings, pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and other LA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained mainstream schools and other LA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools are taken from the DfES annual schools census. Private voluntary and independent (PVI) under-five pupil numbers are taken from the Early Years census but are only included for 1999-2000 onwards. For 1998-99 onwards other LA maintained pupils are included in the pupil count. This includes all pupils attending schools not maintained by the authority for whom the authority is paying full tuition fees, or educated otherwise than in schools and pupil referral units under arrangements made by the authority drawn from form 8b submitted to the DfES. Also included as other LA maintained pupils are all pupils attending pupil referral units who are not registered at a maintained school drawn from the DfES annual school census. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis. 4. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and are subject to change by the LA.

School Leaving: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students in the Ribble Valley constituency left full-time education at the age of 16 in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 11 July 2007
	 Participation of 16-year-olds in education and training is published in the Statistical First Release: Participation in Education and Training by 16 and 17-year-olds in each local area in England. The following table shows the percentage of 16-year-olds participating in full-time education together with the population estimate for Lancashire local authority. Although the remaining young people are not in full-time education, many are in apprenticeships or part-time education. The latest year for which data are available is end 2005.
	
		
			   Percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education  16-year- old population 
			 2005 71 15,700 
			 2004 69 16,000 
			 2003 66 16,000 
			 2002 66 15,000 
			 2001 65 15,000 
			 2000 66 15,000 
			 1999 66 15,000 
			 1998 64 14,000 
			 1997 65 18,000 
			 1996 65 18,000 
		
	
	These figures are not currently available at parliamentary constituency level.

Schools: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to give schools additional flexibility on school testing; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Schools within the Making Good Progress pilot will be trialling 'single level' tests. There will be tests available from level 3 to level 8 of the national curriculum in reading, writing and mathematics. Teachers in pilot schools will have two opportunities a year to enter pupils in any year group within Key Stage 2 or 3 for a test when they judge that they are performing securely at that level. The pilot will last for two years from September 2007 and for its duration pupils will also continue to sit end-of-Key-Stage tests.

Schools: Capital Investment

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of capital spending in real terms on schools in each year from 1996-97 to 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not maintain records centrally of capital spending in schools. This is because allocations from the Department are pooled with other resources available to each local authority, which then decides how much should be spent on schools, and on the timing of spend. Particularly, Devolved Formula Capital, which is for schools' own use, can be saved up by schools for three years or longer to finance larger capital projects.
	The following table shows capital allocations to local authorities and schools in each year from 1996-97 to 2007-08, using the GDP deflator to adjust to 2005-06 prices.
	Allocations have not yet been confirmed for each year in the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 and are not shown. However, in cash terms, they are planned to rise to £8.0 million by 2010-11. The GDP deflator has the effect of increasing cash values before 2005-06, and reducing cash values from 2006-07.
	
		
			   Capital allocations to local authorities (£ billion) 
			 1996-97 0.7 
			 1997-98 0.9 
			 1998-99 1.1 
			 1999-2000 1.2 
			 2000-01 2.1 
			 2001-02 2.1 
			 2002-03 3.5 
			 2003-04 4.1 
			 2004-05 4.7 
			 2005-06 5.6 
			 2006-07 5.7 
			 2007-08 6.1 
		
	
	The Department for Communities and Local Government receives information on capital spend from local authorities. This will differ from the allocation figures shown above, due to timing differences.

Schools: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in  (a) West Chelmsford and  (b) Chelmsford local authority area are at (i) primary and (ii) secondary school.

Jim Knight: Chelmsford is not a local authority area. The available information has been provided for West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency and Essex local authority area.
	
		
			  All schools: number (headcount) of pupils ( 1) —As at January 2007 (provisional) 
			   Headcount of pupils 
			   West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency  Essex local constituency authority area 
			 Maintained Nursery 181 291 
			 Maintained Primary 7,934 105,552 
			 Maintained Secondary 8,678 90,503 
			 Maintained Special 238 1,840 
			 Non-Maintained Special (2)— 102 
			 Pupil Referral Units (2)— 326 
			 Independent Schools 1,618 11,466 
			 City Technology Colleges and Academies (2)— (2)— 
			 (1) Excludes dually registered pupils. Includes pupils with other providers in Pupil Referral Units. (2 )Not applicable, no schools of this type  Source:  School Census

Schools: Curriculum

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what changes there were to the schools curriculum in each year from 1992-93 to 9 July 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In 1993 Sir Ron Dearing was asked by the Government to review the National Curriculum and its assessment. As a result, a revised version of the curriculum was produced in 1995. The key changes were:
	a reduction in prescribed content;
	increased flexibility;
	statutory testing being limited to core subjects only;
	the introduction of information and communication technology—to be taught as a subject in its own right and through other subjects;
	a reduction in the number of compulsory subjects at KS4; and
	replacing statements of attainment for teacher assessment with eight level descriptions for each subject and end of key stage statements for art, music and P.E.
	The curriculum underwent further revision in 2000. The key principles of the 2000 review included:
	improving the coherence and alignment of subjects—including through a common format for programmes of study;
	reducing duplication and prescription across subjects;
	introducing citizenship as a subject at Key Stages 3 and 4;
	allowing more flexibility at Key Stage 4; and
	developing an overt statement of the aims and purposes of the curriculum.
	In September 2004, the Key Stage 4 curriculum was amended to reduce the number of compulsory National Curriculum subjects to six: English, mathematics, science, ICT, citizenship and physical education. We also introduced entitlement areas in languages, design and technology, the arts, and humanities.
	In 2006, the Education and Inspections Bill introduced a new statutory entitlement for all Key Stage 4 students to study science programmes leading to at least two GCSEs, and an entitlement to diplomas.
	A review of the secondary curriculum is currently under way and will be rolled out to secondary schools from September 2008. The new secondary curriculum will:
	further reduce prescription over subject content;
	create flexibility for teachers to support pupils who are struggling to master the basic skills of English and maths;
	free up time and space for greater personalisation of the curriculum, allowing pupils to study some areas in more depth;
	highlight connections across and between the subjects; and
	give a new emphasis to the development of personal and life skills.

Schools: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what real terms change in schools funding he plans for each year from 2007-08 to 2015-16; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Spending Review settlement provided for a significant increase in DfES funding over the next three years to reach £75.5 billion by 2010-11, approximately £11 billion higher than in 2007-08. DCSF is still agreeing the exact split of budgets with DIUS so it is not possible to give the real term increases in school funding from 2008-11 at this moment. We will announce the increase in school funding in the autumn. The level of school funding from 2012-16 will not be known until the DCSF receives its allocation in the next Spending Review.

Schools: Information and Communications Technology

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received on the health impact of interactive whiteboards.

Jim Knight: We have received a number of representations from the media, schools, the public and industry over the last few years. Our consistent view is that there are no health risks associated with the use of interactive whiteboards in schools if the boards are used in accordance with the guidelines issued by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency on behalf of the Department. These guidelines, developed in collaboration with the Health and Safety Executive and the National Radiological Protection Board, are publicly available to all schools and interested parties.

Schools: Teaching Methods

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on the implementation of personalised learning in schools.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State announced new plans on Tuesday 10 July to encourage a personalised approach to teaching and learning in schools, with a focus on ensuring that every child has the chance to make the most of their talents and fulfil their potential.
	We will be providing £150 million for Assessment for Learning training over the next three years to help teachers better track their pupils' progress and personalise their learning to stretch gifted children and help underachieving children catch up. Assessment for learning plays a critical role in helping teachers monitor the progress of every pupil against their own individual expectations and triggering swift intervention for those pupils whose progress slows.
	There will be a major review of maths teaching in primary schools which will seek to define the most effective methods of teaching and learning maths to develop pupils' deeper understanding; and this will inform the design of Every Child Counts, a new intervention programme for young children who are struggling with numeracy.
	The Secretary of State has also announced a £265 million extended schools subsidy over the next three years to ensure that children from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit from extra out-of-hours tuition and after-school clubs in sport, music and drama.
	Personalised learning means taking a highly structured approach to pupils' progress in the round, encouraging pupils to take ownership of their own learning, and engaging with their parents as partners. These new programmes build on the work already under way, such as the Making Good Progress Pilots and supporting the well-being of children and young people through the roll-out of the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme.

Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increased flexibility of the proposed Key Stage 3 programmes of study proposed in the report of the secondary curriculum review on the effectiveness of Key Stage 3 assessment.

Jim Knight: The proposed changes to Key Stage 3 programmes of study will not change the requirements for testing in the Key Stage 3 core subjects of English, maths and science. In its regulatory role, QCA is responsible for ensuring the maintenance of standards over time, taking account of any changes to the curriculum.

Secondary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average size, by pupil numbers, of English secondary schools was in each year from 1990 to 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The available information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Secondary schools( 1) : average size of school based on full-time equivalent pupils( 2,3)( ) Position in January each year: 1997 to 2006—England 
			   Average size of school 
			 1997 852 
			 1998 861 
			 1999 877 
			 2000 896 
			 2001 928 
			 2002 944 
			 2003 962 
			 2004 975 
			 2005 980 
			 2006 982 
			 2007 978 
			 (1 )Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Excludes dually registered pupils. (3) Part-time pupils are counted as 0.5 full-time equivalents.  Note: Figures for earlier years are not readily available.  Source:  School Census 
		
	
	Along with the average school size, it is also important to consider the spread of school sizes, information on which is given for 2006 and 2007 in the table as follows:
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools: number of schools by size( 1)( ) At January each year—England 
			   2006  2007 
			  School size  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Up to 100 3 0 6 0 
			 101 to 200 26 1 31 1 
			 201 to 300 51 2 51 2 
			 301 to 400 100 3 108 3 
			 400 to 500 159 5 152 5 
			 501 to 600 186 6 178 5 
			 601 to 700 233 7 240 7 
			 701 to 800 330 10 345 10 
			 801 to 900 366 11 364 11 
			 901 to 1,000 361 11 337 10 
			 1,001 to 1,100 334 10 359 11 
			 1,101 to 1,200 304 9 268 8 
			 1,201 to 1,300 241 7 243 7 
			 1,301 to 1,400 236 7 226 7 
			 1,401 to 1,500 159 5 149 4 
			 1,501 to 1,600 96 3 97 3 
			 1,601 to 1,700 67 2 70 2 
			 1,701 to 1,800 48 1 50 1 
			 1,801 and over 67 2 69 2 
			 Total 3,367 100 3,343 100 
			  Source:  School Census 
		
	
	Figures included in this response do not include Academies.

Secondary Education: Carlisle

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent discussions officials in his Department have had with Cumbria county council on secondary education provision in Carlisle; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Officials from across the DCSF have met with officers from Cumbria county council on a number of occasions to discuss the planned city-wide secondary school reorganisation in Carlisle. There have been ongoing discussions relating to the capital investment in Carlisle in response to the January 2005 floods and how it will be used to raise standards in education across the city. This includes working with the council on the academy proposal to replace St. Aidan's school and about finding sponsorship for a possible second academy in Carlisle, based on the Morton school which is currently in special measures.

Secondary Education: Class Sizes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of secondary school pupils were in classes with over  (a) 30 pupils,  (b) 25 pupils and  (c) 20 pupils in each year from 1990-91 to 2007-08.

Jim Knight: The available information is contained in the following table. Data on classes of over 25 and 20 pupils are not readily available. The available relevant data have been italicised. Note that these figures do not include academies.
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools: classes as taught( 1,2) —Position in January each year: 2003 to 2007( 3) , England 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007( 3) 
			  Secondary schools  
			 Average class size 21.9 21.8 21.7 21.5 21.3 
			 Total number of classes 142,190 143,650 143,500 144,330 144,420 
			  Percentage of classes with  
			 1 to 30 pupils 92.0 91.8 92.3 92.4 92.7 
			 31 to 35 pupils 7.9 8.0 7.6 7.4 7.1 
			 36 or more pupils 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 
			 Total number of pupils 3,110,570 3,131,910 3,108,020 3,099,160 3,069,470 
			   
			  Percentage of pupils in classes with  
			 1 to 30 pupils 88.3 88.0 88.6 88.7 89.0 
			  31 to 35 pupils  11.5  11.7  11.2  11.0  10.7 
			  36 or more pupils  0.2  0.2  0.3  0.3  0.3 
			 (1 )One teacher classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.  (2) Includes middle schools as deemed.  (3) Provisional. Source: School Census 
		
	
	The contents of this table were published as part of the recent Statistical First Release on pupil characteristics which can be found at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000726/index.shtml

Secondary Education: Class Sizes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of the pupil-teacher ratios in secondary schools in the  (a) state and  (b) private sector; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the pupil-to-teacher ratio was in English  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.

Jim Knight: In January 2007 the pupil-teacher ratio was 21.8 in English local authority maintained primary schools and 16.5 in secondary schools. These figures are the latest available and are provisional. The equivalent figures for 2006 are 22.0 and 16.6 respectively. This information is from the Department of Children, Schools and Families School Census.
	No estimate has been made of pupil-teacher ratios in private sector secondary schools.

Secondary Education: Colchester

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1218W, on secondary education: Colchester, if he will list the other issues discussed by senior officials from his Department and officers from Essex county council;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1218W, on secondary education: Colchester, on which dates senior officials from his Department met officers from Essex county council to discuss secondary school provision in Colchester.

Jim Knight: holding answer 12 July 2007
	The officials met officers from Essex county council most recently on 22 May, 20 June, 28 June and 10 July of this year.
	In addition to secondary provision in Colchester, issues discussed at these meetings included the primary capital programme (for which Essex is a pathfinder), school organisation plans, sixth form provision in relation to academies, the role of national leaders in education, and schools in other areas in Essex that are in special measures or currently causing concern.

Specialist Schools: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many specialist schools there were in each year from 1997 to 2007; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of specialist schools in raising performance; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The number of specialist schools in each year from 1997 to 2007 is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1997 221 
			 1998 304 
			 1999 377 
			 2000 513 
			 2001 664 
			 2002 972 
			 2003 1,435 
			 2004 1,945 
			 2005 2,376 
			 2006 2,607 
			 2007 2,807 
		
	
	Research evidence on the impact of the specialist school programme (SSP) to date is positive both in terms of the impact on attainment and in terms of the wider reported benefits on school ethos, teaching and learning and pupil motivation. There have been several independent assessments of the programmes, for example:
	London School of Economics (2000);
	OFSTED evaluations of the progress of Specialist Schools 2001 and 2005;
	"A Study of the Specialist Schools Programme", Institute of Education, University of Warwick 2004.
	The evidence shows that specialist schools outperform non-specialist schools. On overall school improvement and value added measures, specialist schools' results have delivered higher standards for children since their inception.
	Specialist schools are the future of secondary education in England. We want every secondary school that meets the criteria to attain specialist status. We are well on track to meet our target of 95 per cent. of eligible secondary schools to be specialist by 2008. Currently over 2.8 millions students attend specialist schools.
	All specialist schools must work with partner schools and the wider community and we are keen to exploit the strengths of our strongest schools to lead system- wide reform. There are over 550 high performing specialist schools which have taken on additional options extending their partnership working with other schools. We have also a very small scale pilot testing exploring specialism in primary schools.

Teachers: Assessments

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  to which key stage level in the national curriculum each of the qualified teacher status skills tests is roughly equivalent;
	(2)  how many times the qualified teacher status skills tests were  (a) sat and  (b) passed in each financial year since they were introduced, broken down by type of test;
	(3)  what the total cost of administering the skills tests was in each financial year since the qualified teacher status skills tests were introduced.

Jim Knight: The qualified teacher status (QTS) skills tests equate to key stage 4 of the national curriculum.
	The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) holds data on the number of QTS skills tests attempted by teacher trainees who successfully passed the tests, but not on those who have not successfully passed the tests. The available data on numbers of tests attempted are collected on an academic, rather than financial year, basis. The following table shows for each of the academic years 2000/01 to 2005/06 and for each test, the number of teacher trainees who successfully passed that test in that year, the mean number of attempts taken and, therefore, the total number of tests attempted by them. The table also shows for each year and for each test, the number of teacher trainees who either did not attempt the test or who did not pass the test during that period.
	The total cost to the TDA for administering the skill tests in each financial year since their introduction in 1999 is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Total cost for year (£) 
			 1999-2000 1,803,000 
			 2000-01 5,245,000 
			 2001-02 5,972,000 
			 2002-03 4,132,000 
			 2003-04 5,349,000 
			 2004-05 4,722,000 
			 2005-06 4,262,000 
			 2006-07 4,024,000 
			 2007-08 (forecast) 3,654,000 
			 Total costs 39,163,000 
		
	
	
		
			   2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			  Numeracy   
			 Passed 22,949 25,984 29,088 31,306 33,247 34,126 
			 Mean number of attempts required to pass 1.28 1.28 1.31 1.36 1.49 1.49 
			 Approximate number of tests sat by those who passed 29,375 33,260 38,105 42,576 49,538 50,848 
			
			  Literacy   
			 Passed 23,227 26,326 29,616 32,723 33,902 34,150 
			 Mean number of attempts required to pass 1.14 1.25 1.24 1.23 1.39 1.4 
			 Approximate number of tests sat by those who passed 26,479 32,908 36,724 40,249 47,124 47,810 
			
			 ICT   
			 Passed n/a 25,814 29,172 32,961 33,328 33,247 
			 Mean number of attempts required to pass n/a 1.11 1.31 1.17 1.38 1.14 
			 Approximate number of tests sat by those who passed n/a 28,654 38,215 38,564 45,993 37,902 
			
			  Numeracy   
			 Approximate number of trainees who did not pass the tests 459 468 582 2,066 702 1,106 
			
			  Literacy   
			 Approximate number of trainees who did not pass the tests 232 290 296 1,080 488 536 
			
			  ICT   
			 Approximate number of trainees who did not pass the tests n/a 232 496 659 587 702

Teachers: Pay

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the pay scale was of a qualified teacher with seven years' experience in each year since 1996.

Jim Knight: The basic pay for a full-time qualified classroom teacher with seven years' experience, and a good honours degree, in each year since 1996 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Spine point  Annual salary England and Wales (excluding the London area) 
			Pay spine A (until 30 November)  Pay Spine B (from 1 December) 
			 1996 9 20,700 20,901 
			 1997 9 21,318 21,591 
			 1998 9 22,023 22,410 
			 1999 9 23,193 
			 2000 9 23,958 
			 2001 9 24,843 
			 2002 U1 27,861 
			 2003 U1 28,668 
			 2004 U1 29,385 
			 2005 U1 30,339 
			 2006 U1 31,098 
		
	
	The table reflects the structural changes to teachers' pay over the years in question, including the introduction of the upper pay scale in 2000, and assumes a rate of progression achieved by the majority of classroom teachers. Some teachers could have progressed to higher pay levels due to excellent performance or relevant previous experience attracting a higher starting point, or may have moved to the Advanced Skills Teacher or Leadership Group spines. The figures are based on the pay rates for England and Wales. Pay rates are higher for the London area. The figures do not include the additional pay teachers may receive which currently include:
	Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments—which currently range from £2,306 to £11,275.
	Special Educational Needs allowances—currently £1,818 or £3,597.
	Recruitment and retention incentives and benefits—as approved by the governing body or local authority.

Teachers: Pay

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average salary was of  (a) a primary school teacher,  (b) a primary school head teacher,  (c) a secondary school teacher and  (d) a secondary school head teacher in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the average salary of nursery, primary and secondary classroom and head teachers in each March between 1995 and 2005, the latest year available. The figures are given in cash terms and adjusted for inflation using the HM Treasury GDP deflator.
	
		
			  Average salary of full-time regular qualified classroom( 1)  and head teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools, March of each year—England and Wales 
			  £ 
			   Nursery and primary schools  Secondary schools 
			   Classroom teachers  Head teachers  Classroom teachers  Head teachers 
			   Cash  Adjusted( 2)  Cash  Adjusted( 2)  Cash  Adjusted( 2)  Cash  Adjusted( 2) 
			 1995 19,300 25,100 28,000 36,300 21,400 27,800 38,500 50,000 
			 1996 19,800 24,900 28,900 36,400 21,900 27,600 39,800 50,200 
			 1997 20,400 24,900 30,100 36,600 22,600 27,600 41,500 50,700 
			 1998 20,900 24,800 31,100 36,900 23,300 27,600 43,000 50,900 
			 1999 21,700 25,100 32,500 37,600 24,200 27,900 44,800 51,700 
			 2000 22,500 25,500 35,100 39,800 25,000 28,300 48,200 54,600 
			 2001 24,000 26,800 37,300 41,600 26,600 29,800 50,600 56,500 
			 2002 25,200 27,500 39,400 43,000 28,000 30,600 54,100 58,900 
			 2003 26,800 28,300 41,800 44,200 29,700 31,400 57,600 60,900 
			 2004(3) 27,800 28,600 44,000 45,200 30,800 31,600 60,500 62,200 
			 2005(3) 28,800 28,800 46,000 46,000 31,800 31,800 63,600 63,600 
			 (1) Classroom teachers include teachers on the main, upper and AST pay scales. (2) Adjusted for inflation using HM Treasury GDP deflator where 2004/05 = 100 (3) Provisional estimates.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest £100.  Source: Database of Teacher Records

Teachers: Pay

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the pay scales for a newly qualified teacher were in each year since 1996.

Jim Knight: The minimum pay rate for full-time newly-qualified classroom teachers, in each year since 1996, is set out in the following tables:
	
		
			   Spine  p oint  Annual  s alary England and Wales (excluding the London area) (£) 
			Pay  s pine A ( u ntil 30 November)  Pay  s pine B ( f rom 1 December) 
			 1996 0 12,342 12,462 
			 1997 0 12,711 12,873 
			 1998 0 13,131 13,362 
			 1999 1 14,658 
		
	
	
		
			   Scale point  Annual salary England and Wales (excluding the London area) (£) 
			Pay spine A (until 30 November)  Pay spine B (from 1 December) 
			 2000 1 15,141 
			 2001 1 16,038 
		
	
	
		
			Annual salary England and Wales (excluding the London area) (£) 
			   Scale point  From 1 April 2002  From 1 September 2002 
			 2002 1 (1) 16,599 (M1) 17,595 
			 2003 M1 18,105 
			 2004 M1 18,558 
			 2005 M1 19,161 
			 2006 M1 19,641 
		
	
	The table reflects the structural changes to teachers' pay over the years in question, including the shortening of the pay scale and assimilation to the new shortened pay scale in 2002. It assumes that all newly-qualified classroom teachers started on the lowest point of the pay scale, though until September 2002 all newly-qualified teachers would have started above the minimum point if they had a good honours degree. In addition, those with relevant previous experience may receive one or more additional points. The figures are based on the pay rates for England and Wales. Pay rates are higher for the London area. No allowances or incentives are included.

Teachers: Qualifications

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effect on the educational attainment of pupils of being taught by teachers who have no formal qualification in the subject they are teaching; and how many such teachers there are, broken down by  (a) region and  (b) subject.

Jim Knight: No assessment has been made of the effect on the educational attainment of pupils of being taught by teachers who have no formal qualifications in the subjects they are teaching.
	The following table shows the number of teachers teaching each subject and their highest post A-level qualification in that subject. For example, it shows that in November 2002 an estimated 28,200 teachers were teaching maths and, of these, between 22 per cent. and 26 per cent. held no post A-level qualification in maths. The same information is not available by region.
	The information was first published in the 2003 National Statistics Volume "Statistics of Education: School Workforce in England", available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000443/WorkforceinEngland.pdf. A copy is available in the House of Commons Library.
	The data were collected in the 2002 Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey.
	A repeat of the survey was carried out in February 2007 and results should be published towards the end of the summer.
	
		
			  Full-time teachers in maintained secondary schools—highest post A-level qualifications( 1)  held in the subjects they teach( 2)  to year groups 7-13, England 
			   Percentage  
			   Degree( 3)  BEd  PGCE  Cert Ed  Other Qual.  No Qual.  Total teachers (thousand) 
			 Mathematics 42 ± 3 15 ± 2 9 ± 2 7 ± 1 2 ± 1 24 ± 2 28.2 
			 English 51 ± 3 15 ± 2 7 ± 1 6 ± 1 1 ± 1 20 ± 2 29.4 
			 
			 Combined/General science 62 ± 3 12 ± 2 10 ± 2 4 ± 1 1 ± 1 11 ± 2 28.3 
			 Biology(4) 71 ± 5 7 ± 3 11 ± 4 3 ± 2 - ± 1 7 ± 3 5.6 
			 Chemistry(4) 72 ± 5 6 ± 3 12 ± 4 1 ± 1 1 ± 1 7 ± 3 5.2 
			 Physics(4) 63 ± 6 11 ± 4 15 ± 4 3 ± 2 - ± - 8 ± 3 4.7 
			 Other sciences(4) 10 ± 6 4 ± 4 5 ± 4 - ± - - ± - 80 ± 8 1.6 
			 
			 French 54 ± 3 7 ± 2 10 ± 2 3 ± 1 2 ± 1 23 ± 3 16.0 
			 German 47 ± 5 6 ± 3 13 ± 4 1 ± 1 2 ± 1 30 ± 5 6.9 
			 Spanish 37 ± 7 8 ± 4 19 ± 6 - ± - 3 ± 2 33 ± 7 3.6 
			 Other modern languages 18 ± 8 - ± - 9 ± 7 - ± - 3 ± 4 71 ±10 1.4 
			 
			 Design and technology(5) 26 ± 3 20 ± 3 7 ± 2 21 ± 3 2 ± 1 24 ± 3 20.9 
			 ICT(5, 6) 13 ± 2 6 ± 1 8 ± 2 2 ± 1 3 ± 1 69 ± 3 18.9 
			 Other/Combined technology(5) 30± 10 13 ± 8 16 ± 7 18 ± 9 2 ± 3 20 ± 9 1.6 
			 
			 Business studies 30 ± 5 11 ± 4 9 ± 3 4 ± 2 3 ± 2 43 ± 5 6.5 
			 Classics 33 ± 7 - ± - 2 ± 4 2 ± - - ± - 63 ± 7 1.0 
			 History 57 ± 4 9 ± 2 6 ± 2 6 ± 2 - ± - 23 ± 3 13.7 
			 Religious education 22 ± 3 8 ± 2 8 ± 2 4 ± 1 2 ± 1 57 ± 4 14.2 
			 Geography 53 ± 4 9 ± 2 6 ± 2 5 ± 2 1 ± 1 25 ± 3 13.7 
			 Other social studies 35 ± 5 6 ± 3 2 ± 2 2 ± 1 - ± 1 54 ± 6 4.9 
			 Combined arts/humanities/social studies 5 ± 3 4 ± 2 7 ± 3 1 ± 1 1 ± 1 83 ± 5 5.3 
			 
			 Music 59 ± 5 15 ± 4 5 ± 2 6 ± 3 2 ± 2 13 ± 4 6.3 
			 Drama 25 ± 4 10 ± 3 12 ± 3 6 ± 2 2 ± 1 45 ± 5 8.1 
			 Art and design 54 ± 4 10 ± 3 7 ± 2 9 ± 3 1 ± 1 20 ± 4 9.3 
			 Physical education 25 ± 3 31 ± 3 6 ± 2 13 ± 2 2 ± 1 22 ± 2 21.4 
			 Careers education 2 ± 2 1 ± 2 3 ± 3 4 ± 4 3 ± 4 87 ± 7 1.5 
			 PSHE(6) 1 ± - 1 ± - 2 ± 1 1 ± - - ± - 95 ± 1 61.4 
			 General studies 1 ± 1 2 ± 1 1 ± 1 - ± 1 - ± - 95 ± 2 7.1 
			 Citizenship 2 ± 1 1 ± 1 2 ± 1 - ± 1 - ± - 94 ± 2 9.0 
			 Other — — — — — — 32.8 
			 
			 Total(2, 7) 33 ± - 10 ± - 7 ± - 5 ± - 1 ± - 44 ± - 388.4 
			 '-' = zero or less than 0.5. (1) Where a teacher has more than one post A-level qualification in the same subject, the qualification level is determined by the highest level reading from left (Degree) to right (Other Qual.). For example, teachers shown under PGCE have a PGCE but not a degree or BEd in the subject, while those with a PGCE and a degree are shown only under Degree. (2) Teachers are counted once against each subject which they are teaching. (3) Includes higher degrees but excludes BEds. (4) Teachers qualified in combined/general science are treated as qualified to teach biology, chemistry, or physics. Teachers qualified in biology, chemistry or physics are treated as qualified to teach combined/general science. (5) Teachers qualified in other/combined technology are treated as qualified to teach design and technology or information and communication technology. Teachers qualified in design and technology or information and communication technology are treated as qualified to teach other/combined technology. (6) Information and Communication Technology is abbreviated as ICT and Personal Social and Health Education is abbreviated as PSHE. (7) 'Other' not included in total percentages.  Source: Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey 2002.

Teachers: Science

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1099W, on teachers: science, what steps he is taking to ensure that there is a sufficient number of new teachers with a specialism in  (a) physics and  (b) chemistry.

Jim Knight: We are providing a bursary of £9,000 to PGCE trainee teachers in the sciences and a golden hello of £5,000 after their first year of teaching. As a further incentive, providers of teacher training receive an additional 'bounty' of £1,000 for every place on a science course which is taken up by a physics or chemistry graduate.
	The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) funds enhancement courses to increase the number of specialist mathematics, physics and chemistry teachers. These courses have enabled over 1,000 additional people to qualify to teach in these subjects.
	Over the last five years we have been running the Student Associate Scheme which focuses on physics and chemistry and places high quality undergraduates in schools for up to 20 days to provide curriculum support for teachers and to carry out project work with pupils. It also gives participants a taste of teaching as a career. The Secretary of State for Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has just announced that participation in the scheme is to be doubled.
	The TDA's highly successful advertising campaign has also contributed significantly to increases in teacher recruitment, and is now concentrating on attracting teachers to priority subjects, including mathematics, physics and chemistry.
	Vacancy rates for science teachers in secondary schools have fallen by almost half—from 1.6 per cent. in 2001 to 0.9 per cent. in 2006, when 3,007 people started mainstream teacher training in science. Of these, 12 per cent. were studying physics, 18 per cent. chemistry, 30 per cent. biology and 40 per cent. general science.

Teachers: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) teachers and  (b) teaching assistants were employed in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Tamworth in (A) 1997 and (B) at the last date for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teachers and teaching assistants employed in local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools in Tamworth constituency in January 1997 and 2006, the latest year for which figures are available at this level.
	Constituency level information for 2007 will become available in September.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent number of regular teachers and teaching assistants in service in nursery/primary and secondary schools in Tamworth constituency, January 1997 and 2006 
			   Teachers  Teaching assistants 
			   Nursery/primary  Secondary  Nursery/primary  Secondary 
			 1997 370 360 130 60 
			 2006 360 390 270 150 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Young People: Parents

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to publish his strategy on teenage parents; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We plan to publish the strategy shortly. The original teenage pregnancy strategy—published in 1999—included action both to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies and to provide better support for teenage parents. We have made steady progress in reducing the teenage pregnancy rate. The latest data (2005) show that the under-18 conception rate has fallen by 11.8 per cent. since the strategy's baseline year (1998), to its lowest level for over 20 years.
	The refreshed 'support' strategy which we will be issuing aims teenage mothers having fewer or to reduce the risk of subsequent pregnancies and to improve the lives of teenage parents and their children, who are at high risk of poor outcomes; including:
	Poor child health outcomes, such as a 60 per cent. higher rate of infant mortality and increased risk of low birth weight;
	Poor emotional health and well-being experienced by teenage mothers; and
	Increased risk that teenage parents and their children will live in poverty.
	Better support for teenage parents not only reduces their risk of poor outcomes now, but is also part of our long-term strategy to reduce teenage pregnancy rates in the future—as it will mean that their children will be less likely to experience the factors that increase the risk of teenage pregnancy, such as social deprivation, poor educational attainment and low aspirations. Through better support we can also help teenage parents to avoid second and subsequent unplanned pregnancies—it is estimated that 20 per cent. of births to teenagers are to young women who are already teenage mothers.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Central America: Children

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps his Department has taken to promote the welfare of street children in Central America.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) is assisting street children in Honduras and Guatemala through our support to the World Bank (WB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). DFID funds are being used to strengthen WB and IDB programmes to tackle the factors that force many children onto the street. For example, DFID assistance through the IDB has included $145,000 to build the capacity of Guatemalan non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public sector officials to reintegrate street children back into society. DFID has also contributed $150,000 to the IDB in Honduras for a programme to better prioritise social assistance to vulnerable groups, such as street children, using better data collection and analysis.
	DFID provides core funding to the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) who run programmes throughout Central America aimed at improving children's access to health and education. Street children have also benefited from UNICEF's programmes in the region on HIV and AIDS and to eliminate child labour and violence against children.

Departments: Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in his Department have been  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for (i) inappropriate use of the internet while at work and (ii) using work telephones to access premium rate telephone numbers in the last 12 months.

Shahid Malik: DFID's Discipline and Dismissal Procedures are fully compliant with UK legislation and apply to home civil servants working in both the UK and overseas. The same procedures apply to our locally appointed staff, who work in our network of overseas offices, unless local law dictates otherwise.
	DFID disciplined fewer than five staff for inappropriate use of the internet while at work in the last 12 months. Due to the small numbers involved, a breakdown by type of offence, employment status and outcome is not made public on the grounds of confidentiality. None of these staff was dismissed.
	DFID did not discipline or dismiss any staff for using work telephones to access premium rate numbers in the last 12 months.
	The arrangements for staff accessing the internet, and the use of office telephones, are described in our response to a similar question raised on 1 May 2006, which covered the preceding five year period.

Departments: Public Transport

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what incentives he has considered to encourage staff in his Department to use public transport.

Shahid Malik: DFID provides interest-free loans to staff for the purchase of travel season tickets. This is the only direct incentive we provide to staff, although we also publicise public transport alternatives, particularly in London where we do not have any car parking for staff. We also engage with local authorities on the provision of public transport around our East Kilbride office, and monitor and report on trends in our Green Transport Plans.

Departments: Publicity

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of advertising commissioned by his Department in the last 12 months.

Shahid Malik: In the 12 months since July 2006, DFID's main promotional activity was in support of the launch of the Third White Paper on International Development. This was the largest campaign that DFID has run to date. The campaign was evaluated to show which promotional method gave the best rate of response and the best value for money. This showed that e-communications compared favourably with flyer inserts into periodicals and newspapers. This information is being used to inform future campaigns and promotional activity.
	DFID's other main area of advertising spend is recruitment and procurement advertising which is assessed in terms of response rate and quality. At present there is no formal system for evaluating the cost effectiveness of each advert. However, DFID is introducing an e-enabled recruitment system that will help with this evaluation in the future.
	DFID is committed to reducing the cost of advertising generally by the use of shorter and more focused advertisements and through maximising discounts through the Central Office of Information.

Departments: Racial Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which his Department is responsible have been  (a) investigated and  (b) upheld in the last 12 months.

Shahid Malik: DFID's Grievance Procedures are fully compliant with UK legislation and apply to civil servants working in the UK and overseas. We also apply them to our locally appointed staff overseas, who work under local contracts, unless local law dictates otherwise.
	DFID investigated fewer than five complaints of racial harassment in the last 12 months. Due to the small number, a breakdown by number, employment status and outcome is not made public on the grounds of confidentiality. All complaints were thoroughly investigated by trained staff and appropriate action was taken by senior managers hearing the cases.

Governance and Transparency Fund

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated cost is of administration of the funding distribution mechanism of the Governance and Transparency Fund; and from which budget that funding comes.

Shahid Malik: Under the agreement reached with the managing agent for the Governance and Transparency Fund (GTF), the exact cost of administration will depend on the number of proposals submitted and the number of projects supported. We estimate that the administration cost will be approximately £1.6 million. This will come from DFID's administration budget, not from the £100 million programme budget allocated to the GTF.

Iraq: Reconstruction

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what bodies his Department consulted in or before March 2003 on the likely cost of the reconstruction of Iraq in the event of military action being taken against that country;
	(2)  what his Department's estimate was in March 2003 of the cost of reconstruction in Iraq in each of the subsequent five financial years.

Shahid Malik: Before March 2003, the UK Government, together with United Nations agencies, international NGOs and Coalition partners such as the United States and Australia, prepared contingency plans that included the possibility of prolonged urban warfare, large population movements, or the widespread destruction of essential infrastructure. The cost of reconstruction was considered substantial. Iraq had suffered more than 20 years of conflict, mismanagement and underinvestment by the Saddam regime.
	From June to October 2003, the World Bank, United Nations and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) undertook a joint needs assessment and recommended investing some US$56 billion towards reconstruction over four years (this was not divided into financial years). It was expected that oil revenues would make a significant contribution to this reconstruction. Against this, the international community pledged an initial US$32 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq at the Madrid Donors' Conference in October 2003 to which the UK pledged an initial £544 million. Iraq has plenty of resources in its own budget, with forecast oil revenues of $33 billion in 2007. Our priority is therefore to help the Iraqi Government make better use of these resources so that they can deliver better public services.

Iraq: Reconstruction

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on reconstruction in Iraq in each financial year since 2002-03.

Shahid Malik: Since 2002-03, DFID has disbursed the following on bilateral assistance to Iraq:
	
		
			  £000 
			  Financial year  Reconstruction and development assistance  Humanitarian assistance  Total DFID bilateral programme 
			 2002-03 0 18,853 18,853 
			 2003-04 99,261 110,052 209,313 
			 2004-05 27,724 21,383 49,107 
			 2005-06 82,105 4,764 86,869 
			 2006-07 39,483 10,085 49,568 
			 Total 248,573 165,137 413,710

Liberia: Children

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources his Department has provided for  (a) children's services projects and  (b) child protection programmes in Liberia over the last two years; what further such projects are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: DFID's humanitarian support for Liberia in the last two years has focused on the provision of basic services and on protection issues for the most vulnerable, particularly children, including the internally displaced (IDPs), returning refugees, and those not yet returned.
	DFID has provided over £2 million in support of the provision of basic and secondary health care services, through agencies such as Save the Children and Merlin, which have given emphasis to providing free primary health care, including reproductive and sexual health care services to children, adolescents, women and other vulnerable groups recovering after the conflict. DFID support for the return of IDPs and refugees, including food and shelter, has totalled £2.8 million over the last two years.
	Our continuing support to Community Development Programmes provides assistance to enterprise and apprenticeship schemes to give skills training opportunities for youth (£1.9 million over the last two years).
	DFID's wider programme of support to Liberia will continue at £10 million per annum and will include increased support to the health sector and to water and sanitation services to provide equitable access to the most vulnerable, including children.

Palestinians: International Assistance

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects the final decision on the terms for the restoration of EU funding to the Palestinian Authority under the Temporary International Mechanism to be made; and when he expects the delivery of aid under the Mechanism to be resumed.

Shahid Malik: The Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) has continuously provided support since June 2006 to Palestinian Authority employees and to the poorest Palestinians. The Quartet recently extended the TIM until the end of September 2007. On 9 July the European Parliament Commission approved an additional €90 million for payments through the TIM. This will provide sufficient resources to fund TIM payments until the end of September.
	On 18 June, European Union Foreign Ministers discussed the resumption of assistance to the PA. They concluded that the EU should urgently develop the conditions for direct practical and financial assistance. The EU is currently discussing with Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad how best to assist the Emergency Government.

JUSTICE

Bedford Prison: Prisoners Release

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have been released early from HM Prison Bedford in each month since January 2007; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Under the Criminal Justice Act 1991, those sentenced to determinate sentences of four years or more are eligible for parole halfway through their sentence. If parole is not granted then release occurs at the two-thirds point of the sentence (or at a subsequent parole review if earlier). Numbers of prisoners recommended for parole are shown at table 10.4 of the offender management caseload statistics 2005, a copy of which can be found in the Library. Prisoners sentenced to determinate terms of under four years under the 1991 Act are generally released automatically at the halfway point of their sentence. The Home Detention Curfew scheme (HDC) has been in operation since January 1999. Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and passing a careful risk assessment, prisoners serving sentences of between three months and less than four years may be released up to four-and-a-half months (135 days) early from prison subject to an electronically monitored curfew normally between 7pm and 7am. Information on the numbers of prisoners released under Home Detention Curfew (HDC), can be found in table 10.3 in the offender management caseload statistics 2005.
	The End of Custody Licence was introduced on 29 June 2007. Eligible prisoners serving between four weeks and less than four years may be released under licence from prison up to 18 days before their automatic release date.
	Figures on the numbers of releases on Home Detention Curfew from HMP Bedford between January and June 2007 can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  Releases from HMP Bedford on Home Detention Curfew, January to June 2007 
			   Number 
			 January 6 
			 February 6 
			 March 9 
			 April 9 
			 May 3 
			 June 4 
		
	
	Additionally there were 41 releases from HMP Bedford on End of Custody Licence between 29 June and 5 July 2007, and one release on parole from Bedford Prison in June 2007.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Bombings: Compensation

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints he has received from hon. Members on the level of compensation offered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to those injured as a result of the bombing of tube trains and a bus on 7 July 2005.

Maria Eagle: Victims of the London bombings of 7 July 2005 are eligible for compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme on the same basis as victims of other violent crime in Great Britain. Three MPs wrote of their own volition to say that amounts of compensation payable to 7/7 victims should be increased, and a further two wrote in support of constituents' letters saying that the compensation payable following fatal injury was not enough.

Committal Proceedings

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average cost of an adjourned committal hearing.

Maria Eagle: The average cost per hour in a magistrates court in 2005-06 was £415 on a full cost basis, including apportionment of central overheads.
	While there are other interpretations, this answer is based on that of a Section 6 (1) and Section 6 (2) committal hearing definition. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest these times can vary considerably from one area to another depending on the practices of the Justice's Clerk.
	A section 6(1) committal in which the defence object to being committed to the Crown court (e.g. no case to answer on the papers argued). Then the magistrates court adjourns to a convenient date for the prosecution to prepare their case, to enable the Bench to read the papers and to hear the legal argument at the adjourned hearing. This would probably run to 2 if not 3 hours including the time taken by the magistrates to read the papers and hear the legal argument. The estimated cost for a Section 6(1) committal hearing is between £830 to £1,245.
	A section 6(2) committal is where the court decides to commit to the Crown court for trial and there is a 6-week adjournment for the prosecution to prepare their case. This type of committal would last on average 30 minutes. The average cost for a Section 6(2) is £207.50.

Departments: Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on overnight accommodation by civil servants within his Department's areas of responsibilities in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: It is not possible to list the costs spent on overnight accommodation by civil servants in the last 12 months without incurring disproportionate costs as the expenditure is not separately identifiable within the Department's accounts.
	All official travel by civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the "Civil Service Management Code", a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members.

Departments: Publicity

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of advertising commissioned  (a) by his Department and  (b) in relation to policy areas for which it is now responsible in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: Since 9 May when my Department was created we have commissioned advertising for the Camberwell Green Magistrates Court Payback scheme, magistrates recruitment; recruitment to judicial and executive posts; and recruitment to civil service posts within the Department.
	Between 6 July 2006 and 9 May 2007, the Department for Constitutional Affairs commissioned advertising to publicise the Operation Payback initiative targeting fine defaulters, and recruitment advertising for magistrates, for judicial office and for executive posts within the civil service.
	Response to the Camberwell Community Payback advertisement was monitored and evaluated by the operational team at Camberwell court. The advert achieved the desired response through extensive positive media coverage and this is still ongoing.
	On magistrates recruitment, the numbers recruited in 2006-07 exceeded the target for the year. All other advertising has been for recruitment which is evaluated by the number and calibre of applicants successfully filling vacancies.
	Each judicial selection exercise has a specifically tailored marketing plan to ensure use of the most appropriate advertising channels which to date has achieved higher numbers and better quality of applicants.
	In respect of recruitment to the Senior Civil Service, my department is working with Cabinet Office and a number of other Departments to explore how we can adapt and improve recruitment and achieve cost savings in line with best practice in the market place. This includes a migration to on-line advertising with all vacancies being advertised on the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway and using generic adverts with signposting to enable the Ministry to pool resources and advertise with other Departments in a single advert to reduce use of newspaper space.

Departments: Racial Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which his Department is responsible have been  (a) investigated and  (b) upheld in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: Complaints of racial abuse within my Department are dealt with by a specialist "Dispute Resolution Team". The Dispute Resolution Team is responsible for appointing two trained investigators, who will investigate the allegations and prepare a report for a Determining Authority. The Discipline Policy lists a breach of the equality and diversity or harassment policies as an example of gross misconduct for which the sanction of dismissal may be considered.
	Due to a small number of complaints it is not possible to give the exact details as this could breach the confidentiality of the persons involved.
	In the Prison Service, formal complaints of racial abuse are investigated in accordance with Prison Service Order (PSO) 8460 "Conduct and Discipline" which sets out the procedures for dealing with staff misconduct and contains detailed guidance on the conduct of all types of investigations; and PSO 2800 "Race Equality" which contains policy and guidance on the management of race equality.
	Investigation Support Section (ISS) records show that at least 79 formal disciplinary investigations into allegations of a racist nature were commissioned during the 12-month period to 13 July 2007. Of these 79 cases, nine are awaiting completion, 35 investigations have resulted in the complaint being upheld and 35 have resulted in no further action. It is not possible to break the figures down any further as one investigation can involve a complaint being made against more than one member of staff and whilst the initial outcomes are recorded by ISS, details of successful appeals are held locally.
	The Ministry of Justice does not tolerate racist behaviour of any nature, including racial abuse. All staff undertake mandatory "Diversity Training" on taking up an appointment with the Ministry of Justice and the "Ministry of Justice News" carries regular items regarding diversity issues. There are several Staff Networks (including PROUD—"People of diverse Racial Origins Uniting the Department") which hold regular meetings and produce newsletters.

Drugs: Ribble Valley

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted for drugs-related offences committed in Ribble Valley constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: Data on court proceedings held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform are not broken down by constituency area. However, information on the number of persons convicted of drug offences and motoring offences related specifically to drugs, in courts in the Ribble Valley area for the years 1996-2005 are available, and are provided in the table.
	It is not possible to identify the number of other offences, for example murders, assaults or robberies which involved defendants who were taking illegal drugs as the court proceedings database does not hold specific information on offences beyond descriptions provided by the statutes under which prosecutions are brought. These detailed circumstances are held only on court files, and are not reported to the Office For Criminal Justice Reform. Information for 2006 will be available in the autumn.
	
		
			  Number of persons found guilty of drug offences and other selected offences involving drugs as a result of proceedings brought in courts in the Ribble Valley area, 1996-2005( 1,2) 
			   Drug offences( 1) 
			  Local criminal justice area  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 South Ribble 71 126 129 103 67 60 64 55 37 39 
			 Blackburn, Darwen and Ribble Valley 149 226 273 255 253 209 274 250 187 189 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 
		
	
	
		
			  Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle whil e  unfit through drink or drugs (impairment)—drugs  Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(1)( 1) 
			  Local  c riminal justice area  2004  2005 
			 South Ribble 4 1 
			 Blackburn, Darwen and Ribble Valley 1 3 
			 (1) Offences of Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle and being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs (impairment) were split in 2004 to provide separate offences for drink and drugs. 
		
	
	
		
			  Being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs (impairment)—drugs  Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)( 1) 
			  Local  c riminal justice area  2004  2005 
			 South Ribble — — 
			 Blackburn. Darwen and Ribble Valley — 1 
			 (1) Offences of Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle and being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs (impairment) were split in 2004 to provide separate offences for drink and drugs.

Family Courts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applicants to the family courts were referred for  (a) mediation,  (b) early intervention and  (c) reports in public law in the 2006-07 financial year; and at what cost to the public purse.

Bridget Prentice: The Government believe that mediation can have considerable advantages over going to court in the settling of family disputes, especially where children are involved. There are already 10 in-court referral schemes, where family mediators work together with CAFCASS and the courts to refer appropriate cases for mediation. These have developed locally. The number of referrals is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost by analysing court files.
	In 2005-06 the Legal Services Commission (LSC) funded a total of 14,000 mediation cases for family disputes at a cost of £13.8 million. In about 60 per cent. of publicly funded cases, mediation results in a resolution of all the issues. Figures for 2006-07 will be published shortly and are broadly similar. Provisional figures show the success rate rising to 66 per cent. Expenditure on publicly funded mediation where family proceedings were commenced cannot be identified separately by the LSC.
	In terms of early intervention, CAFCASS and CAFCASS Cymru are providing an in-court conciliation service for cases brought under section 8 of the Children Act 1989. These are most commonly applications made to the courts as a result of parental disputes about a contact or residence matter. The service is available in every county court at the first hearing. The Family Court Adviser assists and encourages the parties to reach agreement themselves rather than proceed to a contested hearing and judicial adjudication. Research into various models of in-court conciliation shows that 76 per cent. of parents reported a full or partial agreement. CAFCASS is now piloting earlier conciliation meetings that take place away from court.
	The courts do not collect data on the number of conciliation meetings held. However, provisional CAFCASS figures show that in 2006-07 their practitioners participated in 26,344 dispute resolution meetings, spending 57,880 hours on these cases—an increase in time spent on early intervention of nearly 34 per cent. on the previous year. The cost of providing these meetings is part of CAFCASS running costs.
	In public law proceedings, the courts may request a range of reports and assessments. Information on the types and numbers of reports and assessments is contained on individual court files. This information, and the cost of providing these reports and assessments, is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Family Courts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications there were to family courts in the last financial year.

Bridget Prentice: The table shows the number of applications made in the family courts in England and Wales in 2006-07, broken down by broad application type.
	The table presents aggregated figures covering all jurisdictions—the High Court, County Courts and Family Proceedings Courts.
	All underlying data relate to the 2006-07 financial year, except for Public and Private Law Children Act applications in the Family Proceedings Courts, for which 2006 calendar year has been used as this is the most recent 12-month period for which complete data are available.
	These figures exclude cases which were reported as having been transferred between courts.
	
		
			  Number of applications made to the family courts in England and Wales, 2006-07 
			   Total 
			 Public Law Children Act 20,709 
			 Private Law Children Act 103,088 
			 Adoption 5,885 
			 Divorce and Separation 149,298 
			 Ancillary Relief 72,191 
			 Domestic Violence 26,308 
			 Total 377,479

Fines: Children

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance his Department provides to magistrates on administering fines to minors who are unable to pay them.

Maria Eagle: The decision to impose a fine is a matter for the court, in exercise of its judicial discretion. Under section 137 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, where a child is dealt with by way of a financial penalty, the court has a duty to order that the fine, compensation or costs awarded be paid by the parent or guardian, unless they cannot be found. In the case of young person aged 16 or more the court has discretion to make such an order as opposed to a duty.
	The Judicial Studies Board, which is responsible for overseeing the training of magistrates, has published the Youth Court Bench Book. The book has been sent to all youth court magistrates and says, on the imposition of fines, that
	"fines should reflect the seriousness of the offence taking into account the means of the defendant, or the parent if the parent is made responsible for payment, and any credit for a guilty plea".

Homicide: Life Sentences

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will abolish the mandatory life sentence for murder.

David Hanson: There are no plans to abolish the mandatory life sentence for murder. The sentence of mandatory life imprisonment reflects the uniquely serious nature of the offence.

Police Custody: Wales

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much and on what dates  (a) South Wales police,  (b) Gwent police,  (c) Dyfed Powys police and  (d) North Wales police have invoiced his Department to cover costs incurred under Operation Safeguard since it began; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The following table provides the costs and dates covered by invoices submitted by the following police forces: Dyfed Powys, North Wales and South Wales. We have not received any invoices from Gwent police.
	
		
			  Invoices submitted by police forces for Operation Safeguard 
			  Police force  Dates covered  Totals 
			 Dyfed Powys 1 November 2006 to 10 November 2006 19,408 
			 Dyfed Powys 12 October 2006 to 31 October 2006 28,700 
			 Dyfed Powys 11 December 2006 to 23 December 2006 28,859 
			 Dyfed Powys 16 January 2007 to 29 January 2007 38,548 
			 Dyfed Powys 30 January 2007 to 22 February 2007 53,562 
			 Dyfed Powys 22 February 2007 to 31 March 2007 109,634 
			 North Wales 12 October 2006 to 12 November 2006 86,277 
			 North Wales 17 January 2007 to 20 February 2007 100,007 
			 North Wales 21 February 2007 to 31 March 2007 52,202 
			 South Wales 10 October 2006 to 15 December 2006 (1)734,765 
			  29 January 2007 to 31 March 2007 (1—) 
			 Total  1,251,961

Prisoners

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the prison population in England and Wales was on  (a) 20 June 2007 and  (b) 27 June 2007.

David Hanson: Figures on the prison population are published each Friday on the Prison Service website. On Friday 22 June the prison population (including those held in police cells under Operation Safeguard) was 80,948. On Friday 29 June the prison population (including those held in police cells under Operation Safeguard) was 81,040.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners Release

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners who were released under the End of Custody Licence on 29 June 2007 and 2 July 2007 had previously been refused parole or release on home detention curfew. [Official Report, 1 September 2008, Vol. 479, c. 7MC.]

David Hanson: Parole applies to prisoners serving sentences of four years or more. Prisoners are eligible for consideration for End of Custody Licence if they have been sentenced to less than four years. No prisoner released under End of Custody Licence would have previously been refused parole during their current sentence.
	Of the 1,390 prisoners release under End of Custody Licence on 29 June 2007 and 2 July 2007, 951 have previously been refused release on home detention curfew.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners Release

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners who were released under the end of custody licence on 29 June 2007 and 2 July 2007 were originally convicted of  (a) a violent offence,  (b) domestic violence and  (c) burglary.

David Hanson: The number of releases under end of custody licence on 29 June 2007 and 2 July 2007 by offence group are as follows:
	
		
			   All 
			 All 1,390 
			 Violence against the person 284 
			 Robbery 15 
			 Burglary 118 
		
	
	Domestic violence is not a specific offence.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners Release

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were released under the end of custody licence on 29 June 2007 and 2 July 2007; and how many of those prisoners were serving (i) less than 12 months and (ii) more than 12 months.

David Hanson: The answer to the question can be found in the following table:
	
		
			   All 
			 Total ECL releases on 29 June and 2 July 2007 1,390 
			 Sentences of less than 12 months 1,165 
			 Sentence of 12 months to less than four years 225 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners Release

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which categories of prisoner are eligible for early release from prison; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The end of custody licence was announced by the then Lord Chancellor on 19 June 2007 and came into use on the 29 June for eligible prisoners serving sentences of four weeks or more but less than four years.
	Eligible prisoners are released a maximum of 18 days before their normal, automatic release date subject to spending a minimum of seven days in custody following sentence.
	The suitability of each prisoner for release under end of custody licence (ECL) is assessed according to set criteria. All prisoners who are potentially eligible will be screened against these criteria. We will not release:
	Registered sex offenders, whether or not they are currently serving a sentence for a sexual offence;
	Prisoners serving sentences for serious violence;
	Prisoners who have previously escaped from custody;
	Prisoners who have previously breached temporary release conditions during the current sentence, have offended during a period under temporary release at any time, or prisoners currently serving a sentence for failing to return from temporary release;
	Prisoners with no accommodation arranged;
	Foreign national prisoners who will be subject to deportation at the end of their sentence;
	Prisoners who are subject to extradition proceedings;
	Sentenced prisoners who have been remanded into custody on further charges or who are awaiting sentence;
	Prisoners who, within the period of their current sentence, had been recalled either from HDC or from normal licence;
	Prisoners required to undertake a treatment programme as a condition of the normal (end of sentence) supervision licence that could not be arranged during the period of THL; and
	Prisoners who are under 18 years of age.

Prisoners Release

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what period of time the Government's early release scheme for prisoners will be in operation; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The end of custody licence was introduced as a temporary measure but it is too early to say how long the scheme will be in operation. We will keep this under review in the light of new prison capacity coming on stream and the review by Lord Carter.

Prisoners Release: Domestic Violence

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether probation staff were required to carry out accommodation checks in respect of prisoners who were released under the end of custody licence scheme where the original offence was less than 12 months and the offence involved domestic violence.

David Hanson: Probation staff are not required to carry out accommodation checks for prisoners released on ECL. Prisons are being advised to bring forward the procedures they would follow at the automatic release date. Where necessary, this would normally involve a member of prison staff ensuring that the local police liaison officer was aware of the situation and able to brief the force to whose area the prisoner was returning.

Prisoners Release: Rehabilitation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assistance with rehabilitation and resettlement was given to prisoners released under the end of custody licence scheme after 27 June 2007.

David Hanson: Prisoners who are subject to supervision on release (all prisoners serving 12 months or more and prisoners under 22 years of age) will be required to meet their probation officer after release on the end of custody licence (ECL) and to have regular contact after that in line with their supervision programme. Prisoners required to undertake a treatment programme as a condition of the normal (end of custodial sentence) supervision licence will not be released on ECL unless the programme can be brought forward to begin from release on ECL.
	Prisoners released on the scheme may be eligible to receive subsistence payments in lieu of benefits to cover the period they are on ECL. This payment is made because prisoners on ECL are released under temporary licence from prison in accordance with the provisions of the Prison Act 1952 and, as such, are statutorily ineligible to receive benefits payments.

Prisoners Release: Reoffenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners who were released under the end of custody licence on 29 June 2007 and 2 July 2007 have subsequently been rearrested for further suspected offences.

David Hanson: Nine offenders out of 1,390 (0.65 per cent.) released under the end of custody licence on 29 June and 2 July have subsequently been identified to the Ministry of Justice as having been arrested for further offending.

Prisoners Release: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were released from each of the prisons in Wales before completing their full sentences in each week since 1 January 2007.

David Hanson: Under the Criminal Justice Act 1991, those sentenced to determinate sentences of four years or more are eligible for parole halfway through their sentence. If parole is not granted then release occurs at the two-thirds point of the sentence (or at a subsequent parole review if earlier). Numbers of prisoners recommended for parole are shown at table 10.4 of the offender management caseload statistics 2005, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House. Prisoners sentenced to determinate terms of under four years under the 1991 Act are generally released automatically at the halfway point of their sentence. The home detention curfew scheme has been in operation since January 1999. Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and passing a careful risk assessment, prisoners serving sentences of between three months and less than four years may be released up to four and a half months (135 days) early from prison subject to an electronically monitored curfew normally between 7 pm and 7 am. Information on the numbers of prisoners released under home detention curfew (HDC), can be found in tables 10.3 in the offender management caseload statistics 2005.
	The end of custody licence was introduced on 29 June 2007. Eligible prisoners serving between four weeks and less than four years may be released under licence from prison up to 18 days before their automatic release date.
	Figures showing the numbers of prisoners released on (i) home detention curfew (January to June 2007) and (ii) end of custody licence (between 29 June and 5 July only) and (iii) releases on parole (January to June 2007) from prison establishments in Wales are in the following tables
	
		
			  (i) HDC 
			   Cardiff  Swansea  Usk/Frescoed  Parc 
			 January 5 4 7 12 
			 February 6 7 5 7 
			 March 5 3 6 12 
			 April 5 5 6 13 
			 May 10 9 12 9 
			 June 6 4 10 10 
		
	
	
		
			  (ii) Parole—releases January to June 2007 
			   Cardiff  Swansea  Usk/Prescoed  Parc 
			 January 0 1 4 4 
			 February 1 0 3 0 
			 March 0 1 4 0 
			 April 0 0 2 0 
			 May 0 0 3 1 
			 June 0 0 1 0 
			 Total 1 2. 17 5 
		
	
	
		
			  (iii) ECL 
			   Cardiff  Swansea  Usk/Prescoed  Parc 
			 29 June to 5 July 15 15 8 38 
		
	
	This information is not readily available on a weekly basis.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Females

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he will respond to the proposals made in the Corston review.

David Hanson: The Government have given a broad welcome to the report. The 43 recommendations which it makes are wide-ranging and propose action by a number of different Government Departments and organisations. We are carefully exploring the recommendations with all the Departments and agencies concerned and will develop a detailed response by late autumn.

Prisons: Overcrowding

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to address overcrowding in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Ministry of Justice is dealing with pressures on the prison estate by building more capacity. A new capacity-building programme which will deliver 8,000 new prison places by 2012 was announced in July 2006 and a further 1,500 places were announced on 19 June 2007.
	In parallel, we will ensure that courts have tough community sentences at their disposal to deal with less serious, non-violent offenders.
	On 19 June the Government announced the introduction of a presumption in favour of release on license for prisoners serving between four weeks and four years for the final 18 days of their sentence. This is a temporary measure to deal with immediate pressure on the prison estate.

Prisons: Screening

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) assessment he has made of and  (b) research he has commissioned into the health and safety impact of the use of body orifice scanning machines in prison.

David Hanson: The manufacturer has stated that the body orifice security scanner operates within the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection guidelines. A compliance certificate was also issued.

Prisons: Screening

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the possibility of the use of body orifice scanning machines in prisons and young offender institutions following the trial in one prison; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The trial of the body orifice security scanner has been extended to the remainder of the high security prisons. A decision on whether to roll it out to all prisons and young offender institutions will be made at the end of the trial, once the results have been evaluated.

Sexual Offences: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many probation officers are involved in the monitoring of sex offenders in each police force area in Wales.

David Hanson: As this is an operational matter we do not collect this information centrally. My officials are establishing whether these data are available from the four probation areas in Wales and I will write to the hon. Lady as soon as I know.

Terrorism: Greater London

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims of the bombings on 7 July 2005 have had their compensation claims paid in full.

Maria Eagle: As at 6 July 2007, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) had received 614 applications in respect of the 7 July bombings, 50 of these since 1 January 2007. They had finalised 496 cases, of which 401 have been paid in full, 51 were rejected by CICA and 44 are 'on offer' to the claimant. In addition, another 57 cases have received interim awards. CICA are proactively seeking to settle the outstanding cases as quickly as possible by getting the necessary information from applicants, the police and medical and other authorities.
	Of the 118 outstanding cases, 25 are cases where claimants have exercised their right of appeal against the initial offer of compensation from CICA.

Victim Support Schemes: Fines

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the operation of victim surcharges; and what representations he has had from the magistracy on the effectiveness of surcharges, with particular reference to their effect on the level of fine defaulting.

Maria Eagle: An internal audit on the victims surcharge process within the courts is due to commence in August 2007. This will be followed in early 2008, by a further internal audit on the amount of victims surcharge being collected and allocated to the Victims Fund. A formal evaluation of the effect of the victims surcharge on the payment rate has not been undertaken. However the current year to date payment rate is 95 per cent. compared to 83 per cent. at the same period last year.
	The Office for Criminal Justice Reform is currently analysing the representations it has received on the victims surcharge. I will write to the hon. Member shortly with the details he requests and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Young Offender Institutions: Re-offenders

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the rate of re-offending was of people held in each young offender institution in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: Offenders held in young offender institutions can be aged between 15 and 21. We do not currently calculate re-offending rates for this age band.
	The most recent juvenile re-offending rates for those aged 15 to 17 who were discharged from custody were published in "Re-offending of juveniles: results from the 2004 cohort". This covers juvenile offenders who were released from all kinds of custody, including Secure Training Centres (STCs) and Local Authority Secure Children's Homes (LASCHs), in the first quarters of 2000 and 2004, in England and Wales. 77.8 per cent. of 15 to 17-year-old juveniles released from custody in the 2004 cohort re-offended during the following 12 months. The figure for the 2000 cohort was 78.2 per cent. The actual re-offending rate is the percentage of offenders who re-offended during a one year follow-up period and who subsequently received a pre-court disposal or were convicted in court. This is discussed further in the Statistical Bulletin which can be found at;
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb1006.pdf
	For those aged 18 to 20, the most recent re-offending rates for offenders discharged from custody were published in "Re-offending of adults: results from the 2004 cohort". This covers offenders who were released from all prisons in the first quarter of 2004, for England and Wales. 74.8 per cent. of offenders aged 18 to 20 in the 2004 cohort re-offended during the 24-month follow-up period. The figures for previous years were 74.8 per cent. in 2003, 77.9 per cent. in 2002 and 77.4 per cent. in 2000. For this age group, the actual re-offending rate is the percentage of offenders who re-offended during a two year follow-up period and who were subsequently convicted in court. This is discussed further in the Statistical Bulletin which can be found at;
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb0607.pdf
	The datasets used to provide these figures do not contain information about the institutions from which the juveniles and young offenders were released and therefore separate figures for YOIs are not available. Furthermore, juveniles and young offenders may be moved between institutions while serving their sentences so it is difficult to relate their re-offending to any particular institution.
	Juvenile re-offending rates for years other than 2000 and 2004 are not available. Re-offending rates for 18 to 20-year-olds are not available for 2001.

Young Offenders: Police Cautions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what advice the Department offered to those authorities issuing conditional cautions to ensure that a responsible adult is always present when a caution is being issued to a minor.

David Hanson: The conditional caution scheme brought in by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 does not apply to those aged under 18. The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill currently before Parliament does contain a proposal to extend conditional cautions to those aged 16-17. The proposal, at Clause 53 and Schedule 11 of the Bill, includes a commitment to prepare a Code of Practice for what will be called the youth conditional caution. That code will include details of the safeguards that should be observed when dealing with young people including ensuring that the existing appropriate adult process is used.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members: Pay

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Leader of the House how many hon. Members have sought a reduced parliamentary salary since 1997.

Helen Goodman: Figures before 2003 are not available. Since 2003 two Members have sought a reduced salary.

Members: Pay

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Leader of the House what the procedure is in circumstances where an hon. Member wishes to take  (a) a reduced and  (b) no parliamentary salary.

Helen Goodman: Any hon. Member who wishes to take a reduced salary or no parliamentary salary can write to the Department of Finance and Administration with their instructions.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services: Reorganisation

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public consultation  (a) her Department has undertaken and  (b) her Department requires regional ambulance services to undertake in their restructuring process.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department supported the conclusions and recommendations of the 2005 review, "Taking Healthcare to the Patient: Transforming NHS Ambulance Services", one part of the implementation of which included a reduction in the number of national health service ambulance trusts broadly in line with strategic health authority boundaries. A 14-week consultation on the future configuration of ambulance services commenced on 14 December and ran until 22 March 2006.
	In terms of local public consultation, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 14 May 2007,  Official Report, column 570W, which set out the extent to which NHS organisations—including ambulance trusts—are required to involve and consult patients and the public in the planning of services, in the development of proposals for changes in services, and in decisions affecting the operation of services.

Cancer

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2007,  Official Report, column 2145W, on cancer, if he will make it his policy to conduct such an assessment.

Ann Keen: We have no plans to make such an assessment. The network of Public Health Observatories, working closely with health colleagues to improve the health of communities across the United Kingdom, will continue to monitor the health and morbidity trends of the regions they cover, and highlight areas where further investigation and intervention might be required.

Cancer: Children

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to support parents of children with cancer.

Ann Keen: The national service framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services sets out a long-term programme intended to stimulate sustained improvement in children's health and well-being. NSFs are long-term strategies for improving specific areas of health care by setting national standards for a defined service (e.g. cancer services or renal services) or a particular care group (e.g. children or older people). Standard eight of the NSF sets out an expectation that:
	"Children and young people who are disabled or who have complex health needs, receive co-ordinated, high quality child and family-centred services which are based on assessed needs, which promote social inclusion and, where possible, enable them and their families to live ordinary lives. Palliative care is available to those who need it and a range of flexible, sensitive services is available to support families in the event of the death of a child."
	The children's NSF puts children, young people and their families at the centre of their care, building services around their needs.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which NHS hospitals in the UK offer photodynamic therapy as a treatment for cancer; and what assessment the NHS has made of the effectiveness of this therapy;
	(2)  what conditions photodynamic therapy is used to treat through the NHS; and what assessment he has made of the relative value for money of photodynamic therapy.

Ann Keen: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be used as a treatment for skin cancer and cancers on or near the lining of internal organs, such as bile duct cancer. It can also be used to treat the classic and predominantly classic forms of age-related macular degeneration and is being investigated as a treatment for psoriasis and acne. It is for the national health service at a local level to decide whether to provide photodynamic therapy services. The Department does not collect information on where this treatment is provided.
	As part of its programme of work on interventional procedures, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on the use of PDT in the treatment of several cancers.
	NICE has stated that PDT for the treatment of Barrett's oesophagus, advanced bronchial carcinoma, endobronchial carcinoma, bile duct cancer and skin tumours is safe and works well enough for use in the NHS, provided normal arrangements are in place for consent, audit and clinical governance.
	NICE has also issued guidance on the use of PDT for early stage oesophageal cancer, stating that current evidence on PDT for the treatment of this disease is not adequate to support its use without special arrangements for consent, audit and clinical governance.
	The Department has not made any estimate of the cost implications of the provision of PDT for the treatment of cancer.
	In September 2003 NICE issued guidance recommending the use of PDT for treating wet age-related macular degeneration in some patients. All primary care trusts are funding PDT for patients with age-related macular degeneration in line with this guidance.
	The Department is investing £1 million in a study to gather evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of PDT for people with the predominantly classic form of age-related macular degeneration. This study will inform NICE when its guidance on photodynamic therapy is reviewed.

Cardiovascular System: Diseases

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2007,  Official Report, column 2148W, on cardiovascular system: diseases, which recommendations made to officials considering the new national stroke strategy are of relevance to the prevention and management of peripheral arterial disease.

Ann Keen: Copies of the consultation document on the national stroke strategy are available in the Library. The draft strategy contains recommendations on risk management that are of relevance to peripheral arterial disease. The consultation period for this draft strategy will extend to 12 October 2007.

Cardiovascular System: Diseases

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to meet patient groups representing those diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease;
	(2)  what programmes are  (a) planned and  (b) in place to raise awareness of peripheral arterial disease with (i) the public and (ii) health professionals.

Ann Keen: There are no plans at the current time to meet patient groups representing those diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease.
	There no programmes planned or in place to raise awareness specifically for peripheral arterial disease with the public or health professionals.
	However, the risk factors which increase an individual's chances of developing peripheral arterial disease include smoking, drinking alcohol, poor diet and lack of physical activity. Through the public health White Paper 'Choosing Health' the Department has set out a programme of action to help improve the health of the public including action on smoking and diet. This builds on existing work such as campaigns on smoking and diet, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on the management of hypertension, points for prevention activities in the general practitioner contract and support for the Blood Pressure Association's blood pressure awareness campaigns.
	The coronary heart disease and diabetes national service frameworks have also driven forward improvements in primary and secondary prevention of risk factors associated with circulatory disease in general. This includes better control of blood pressure and blood glucose, cholesterol management and the use of aspirin.

Children: Screening

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Gateway Approval (ref 7698) concerning consent for a dental screening epidemiological survey for school children was issued; for what reasons the practice of negative permission was discontinued; and what other tests on children are subject to negative permission consents.

Ann Keen: We decided that, under the current good practices followed on consent to treatment, dental examinations in schools should only be carried out when the parents/carers or, if judged competent, the child had given positive consent. The guidance advises on how consent can be obtained in connection with the arrangements made for the admission of children to school. We are not aware of other screening tests conducted in connection with epidemiological surveys, which are subject to negative consent.

Consultant Midwives

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2007,  Official Report, column 863W, on consultant midwives, how many consultant midwives there were in the NHS in England in 2006, broken down by strategic health authority.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 28 June 2007
	The number of consultant midwives in the national health service in England in 2006, broken down by strategic health authority, was shown in the table.
	
		
			  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services: Consultant Midwives, England 
			  As at 30 September 2006  Headcount 
			 England 54 
			 North East 2 
			 North West 11 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 6 
			 East Midlands 3 
			 West Midlands 2 
			 East of England 1 
			 London 19 
			 South East Coast 5 
			 South Central 5 
			 South West 0 
			  Source:   NHS non-medical census.

Dental Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will happen to unused units of dental activity at the end of the contract year.

Ann Keen: Where a provider of national health services dental services delivers more than 96 per cent. but less than 100 per cent. of the annual service levels agreed with the local primary care trust (PCT), the PCT is responsible for setting a period during the following contract year during which these services are to be provided.
	It is a breach of contract to provide less than 96 per cent. of the annual service levels agreed in a contract. In these circumstances, it is up to the PCT to decide whether to allow some or all of these unprovided services to be carried forward to the following contract year. Where a provider has failed to provide at least 96 per cent. of the agreed annual service levels, the PCT may depending on the circumstances wish to propose a reduction in the future contract value and corresponding service levels for that contract, so that these resources can be reinvested in other local dental services.

Dental Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of units of dental activity is which an NHS dentist with a majority NHS patient list is expected to undertake in a year.

Ann Keen: It is for primary care trusts to agree locally with providers of national health service (NHS) dental services the service levels to be provided over the course of each year, subject to transitional provisions governing dentists with NHS contracts in the period before April 2006. These service levels will vary depending on a range of local factors.

Dental Services: Finance

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total value of NHS orthodontic treatment was in each of the last five years, broken down by primary care trust.

Ann Keen: Data identifying the value of orthodontic treatment alone by financial years and for specific local areas are not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However a special analysis of general dental services costs over a 12-month reference period from 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005 was prepared to help calculate funding levels for the new primary dental service arrangements introduced from 1 April 2006. Tables have been placed in the Library which draw on that analysis and set out the total payments during that 12-month reference period for all courses of treatment which included an element of orthodontic care in each of the primary care trusts in England operational at the time.

Dental Services: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) dental practices and  (b) dentists in Hampshire provide NHS treatment; how many hours of NHS dentistry they offered in each (i) week and (ii) month in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS dental treatment in Hampshire.

Ann Keen: As at 31 March 2007 there were 632 dentists on open national health service contracts within Hampshire primary care trust (PCT). This information is also contained in the report published by the Information Centre for health and social care, "NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 4: 31 March 2007", which is available in the Library. Information on numbers of dental practices could be made available only at disproportionate cost.
	PCTs hold contracts with providers of NHS dental services, setting out the agreed level of services to be provided over the course of the year. Services are measured primarily in terms of the number of courses of treatment provided for NHS patients (with courses of treatment grouped into three main bands and given different weightings to reflect their relative complexity). The Department does not hold information on the number of hours of NHS dentistry provided.
	The dental reforms implemented last year gave PCTs, for the first time, the responsibility for providing or commissioning dental services in their area. It is for PCTs locally, working with dentists and with the local public, to assess patient needs, review current service provision and develop services in ways that most effectively reflect local needs and priorities.

Dental Services: Manpower

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many orthodontists worked in the NHS in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The following table sets out the numbers of dentists working in the orthodontic specialty in the hospital or community health services as at 30 September for each year from 1997 to 2006.
	
		
			  Number of hospital and community health services (HCHS): medical and dental staff working within the orthodontics specialty, grade and year, England as at 30 September each year 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Headcount 
			 All staff 509 501 504 513 506 508 522 521 552 544 
			 Consultant 153 153 157 161 154 161 178 180 206 189 
			 Associate specialist 8 8 7 10 11 13 14 18 22 21 
			 Staff grade 14 10 10 14 14 9 12 18 21 12 
			 Registrar group 96 103 98 93 99 114 102 104 120 139 
			 Senior house officer 14 16 18 8 16 16 16 18 12 9 
			 House officer — 1 1 — — — — — 2 1 
			 Hospital practitioner/ Clinical assistant 222 208 212 227 212 195 200 183 164 162 
			 Other 2 2 1 — — — — — 5 11 
			
			  Full time equivalents 
			 All staff 275 280 285 277 290 301 313 324 355 362 
			 Consultant 129 128 138 141 137 142 155 158 176 164 
			 Associate specialist 3 4 3 4 6 6 6 9 13 10 
			 Staff grade 7 4 4 5 8 4 6 8 9 6 
			 Registrar group 85 92 86 82 90 104 97 99 118 135 
			 Senior house officer 12 13 17 7 16 16 16 18 11 9 
			 House officer — 1 1 — — — — — 1 0 
			 Hospital practitioner/ Clinical Assistant 39 37 35 37 34 29 33 31 26 33 
			 Other 1 1 1 — — — — — 2 6 
			  Notes: 1. '—' denotes zero 2. '0' denotes more than zero, less than one.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care medical and dental workforce census. 
		
	
	Most NHS orthodontic treatment is provided by dentists in primary care, generally working under general dental services (GDS) contracts or personal dental services (PDS) agreements. However the numbers of dentists providing orthodontic treatment under GDS or PDS could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Dental Services: Stockport

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units of dental activity were allocated to Stockport primary care trust area for financial year  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Ann Keen: The Department does not allocate fixed quotas of units of dental activity (UDAs) for each primary care trust (PCT). When providing PCTs with their net resource allocations for primary dental services, the Department provides, as a guide, indicative figures for the equivalent gross resources and levels of patient charge revenue a PCT might receive based on indicative assumptions about the annual level of UDAs commissioned and the mix between charge-paying and exempt patients. However it is for PCTs to decide locally what types of service they should commission and what levels of units of dental activity they should seek from those services. Although UDAs (which are a weighted measure of courses of treatment) are the main contract currency under the new local commissioning arrangements, they are only one of a range of indicators that PCTs may wish to use to monitor and manage dental services.

Dental Services: Waiting Lists

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in  (a) England and  (b) Hampshire are waiting for orthodontic treatment; and how many have been waiting for treatment for (i) up to six, (ii) up to 12, (iii) up to 24 and (iv) over 36 months.

Ann Keen: Information is not collected centrally on waiting times for national health service orthodontic treatment provided in primary care.
	Information is collected and published quarterly at England and primary care trust (PCT) level on the numbers of NHS patients waiting for first consultant outpatient appointments and the numbers waiting for hospital admission (for ordinary and day case admissions) for orthodontic treatment as at the end of each quarter. The following tables show the available commissioner-based information for England and for Hampshire PCT. This information is also available at:
	www.performance.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes/2006/q4/index.html.
	
		
			  Numbers of patients waiting for first consultant outpatient appointment by length of wait as at 31 March 2007 
			  Number of weeks waiting  Under 4  4 to <8  8 to <13  13 plus 
			 England 5,425 3,905 1,083 2 
			 Hampshire 193 78 6 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Numbers of patients waiting for hospital admission by length of wait as at 31 March 2007 
			  Number of weeks waiting  Under 13  13 to <26  26 plus 
			 England 377 15 0 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0

Dental Services: Yorkshire and Humberside

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of patients per NHS dentist was in Beverley and Holderness in each year since 1999; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the numbers of patients registered per national health service dentist within the Beverley and Holderness constituency, as at 31 March 1999 to 2006. This information is based on the old contractual arrangements.
	
		
			  Number of patients registered per NHS dentist within Beverley and Holderness constituency, as at 31 March each year 
			   Number 
			 1999 1,320 
			 2000 1,423 
			 2001 1,350 
			 2002 1,326 
			 2003 1,420 
			 2004 1,435 
			 2005 1,176 
			 2006 1,266 
			  Notes: 1. No account is taken of the level of service, if any, that each dentist provides. 2. Dentists consist of principals, assistants and trainees. Information on NHS dentistry in the community dental service, in hospitals and in prisons is excluded.  Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care Business Services Authority Dental Services Division (NHSBSA DSD) 
		
	
	Numbers of registrations no longer form part of the data available under the new NHS dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006. The new measure is patients seen in the previous 24 months and is not comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	Numbers of patients seen in the previous 24 months per dentists on open NHS contracts as at 31 March 2007 are available by strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trust (PCT) area. The latest information for East Riding of Yorkshire PCT is provided in the following table. To provide these data at constituency level would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number of patients seen in the previous 24 months per dentist (performer) on open NHS contracts within East Riding of Yorkshire PCT as at 31 March 2007 
			   Number 
			 2007 1,868 
			  Notes: 1. A performer is defined as a dentist who has been set up on the NHSBSA DSD Payments online POL system by the PCT to work under an open contract during the relevant time period. Data provided are a count of the individuals listed as performers on open contracts within a PCT, including orthodontists. No allowance is made for the level of service, if any, that the individual performer has delivered during the given period. 2. Dentists consist of performers in general dental services, personal dental services and trust-led dental services. 3. The numbers of dentists as at 31 March 2007are provisional and are subject to revision. The final work force figures for 2006-07 will not be available until August 2007 when the Information Centre will publish an end year report on the first 12 months of the new contractual arrangements. 4. Patients have been identified by using surname, first initial, gender and date of birth. 5. Number of patients seen is recorded according to the location of the dentist.  Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care Business Services Authority Dental Services Division (NHSBSA DSD)

Dentists

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists worked within the NHS in each year since 1997; and how many provided  (a) primary and  (b) secondary care.

Ann Keen: Numbers of national health service dentists in England as at 31 March 1997 to 2006 are available in the 'NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006'. Annex E also contains information by strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trust (PCT) area. Information by parliamentary constituency area is available in Annex G.
	This information is based on the contractual arrangements that applied until April 2006. This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006.
	Numbers of NHS dentists in England as at 30 June, 30 September, 31 December 2006 and 31 March 2007 are available in Table G of Annex 3 of the 'NHS Dental Statistics for England Q4:31 March 2007' report.
	This report is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalq4.
	The figures for 31 March 2007 and the earlier quarters in the 2006-07 year are provisional and are subject to revision. The final workforce figure for 2006-07 will not be available until August 2007 when the Information Centre for health and social care will publish an end year report on the first 12 months of the new contractual arrangements. This information is based on the new dental contractual arrangements and is not directly comparable with earlier information.
	The figures for 31 December 2006 and 31 March 2007 include some salaried dentists who will also be included in the Hospital and Community Health Service figures and are shown as follows.
	Information on the number of dentists working in the hospital and community health services is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) : dental staff by year: England as at 30 September each year 
			   Numbers (headcount) 
			 1997 3,567 
			 1998 3,610 
			 1999 3,616 
			 2000 3,530 
			 2001 3,532 
			 2002 3,654 
			 2003 3,763 
			 2004 3,852 
			 2005 3,970 
			 2006 3,909 
			  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Dentists: Romsey

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of NHS dentists in the Romsey constituency.

Ann Keen: The dental reforms implemented last year gave primary care trusts (PCTs), for the first time, the responsibility for providing or commissioning dental services in their area. It is for PCTs to assess local needs, review current service provision and develop services to meet local needs. We understand that Hampshire PCT is developing plans to increase services in the Romsey area.

Departments: Contracts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 1383-5W, on Departments: contracts, whether service category 27 excludes services under  (a) service category 25 and  (b) Common Procurement Vocabulary Codes 74511000-4, and from 85000000-9 to 85323000-9 (except 85321000-5 and 85322000-2).

Ben Bradshaw: Service Category 27 excludes Service Category 25.
	CPV codes 74511000-4, and CPV codes from 85000000-9 to 85323000-9, except 85321000-5 and 85322000-2 are also not included in Service Category 27.

Departments: Delivery Unit

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official  Report, columns 235-36W, on Departments: Delivery Unit, how many copies of the final report of each review were produced; and to whom they were distributed.

Ben Bradshaw: The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit provided copies of the final reports to the Prime Minister, Secretary of State and a small number of senior officials.

Departments: Delivery Unit

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 235-36W, on Departments: Delivery Unit, how many recommendations were made by each of the listed reviews to  (a) the NHS,  (b) his Department and  (c) other Government Departments.

Ben Bradshaw: The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit's Priority Reviews, regardless of topic, typically contain between half a dozen and two dozen recommendations.

Departments: Opinion Leader Research

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2007,  Official Report, column 2168W, on Departments: Opinion Leader Research, for what reason the payment quoted for Opinion Leader Research differs from that given in the answer of 26 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1108W.

Ben Bradshaw: The figures in the answer of 21 June 2007 reflect the total payments made to Opinion Leader by the Department in each year since 2002-03. The figures in the answer of 26 February 2007 reflect payments made by the Department in 2005-06 to the Central Office of Information who managed the contract with Opinion Leader for work undertaken on behalf of the Department on the Your health, Your care, Your say listening exercise.

Departments: Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what her Department's delegated expenditure limit above which expenditure must be approved by HM Treasury was in each year since 1993 for which figures are available;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1899W, on Departments: Public Expenditure, what the delegated limits are for the schemes and transactions under each category of expenditure.

Ben Bradshaw: The detailed information requested has been placed in the Library.
	For the categories listed in the answer of 20 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1899W, delegated limits for the Department have remained the same since the mid 1990s. Only those limits relating to the private finance initiative, public capital and information, management and technology capital schemes have changed.

Departments: Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1899W, on Departments: Public Expenditure, for which private finance initiative schemes his Department had to gain HM Treasury's approval in  (a) 2006-07,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2004-05.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table gives details of the private finance initiative schemes which gained HM Treasury approval for their full business cases since 2004 under the prevailing delegated limits.
	
		
			   Scheme  Capital value (£ million) 
			 2004 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 238 
			  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 265 
			  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust 512 
			
			 2005 Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust 299 
			  Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 129 
			  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 326 
			  Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 236 
			
			 2006 St. Helens Hospitals NHS Trust 338 
			  University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust 627 
			  Barts and The London Hospitals NHS Trust 1000 
			
			 2007 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 343 
			  University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust 306

Departments: Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the Treasury on the reprofiling of his Department's budget before the 2006 Budget; and who initiated those discussions.

Ben Bradshaw: It is standard practice for the Secretary of State to have regular discussions with HM Treasury Ministers about this and other finance issues.

Departments: Public Participation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which third parties are represented in his Department's National Stakeholder Forum.

Ann Keen: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Name  Job title  Organisation 
			 Lord Victor Adebowale Chief Executive Turning Point 
			 John Adler Chief Executive Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Richard Barker Director General The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry 
			 Steve Barnett Director NHS Employers 
			 Stuart Bell Chief Executive South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust 
			 Dr. Amit Bhargava Member of the Professional Executive Committee West Sussex PCT 
			 Professor Dame Carol Black Chair Academy of Medical Royal Colleges 
			 Sally Brearley Chair The Patients Forum 
			 Dr. Peter Carter General Secretary Royal College of Nursing 
			 Julie-Jaye Charles Chief Executive Officer Equalities National Council 
			 Paul Coen Chief Executive Local Government Association 
			 Angela Coulter Chief Executive Picker Institute Europe 
			 Kevin Coyne National Officer—Head of Health Amicus 
			 Ian Dalton Chief Executive North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust 
			 Dame Karlene Davis General Secretary Royal College of Midwives 
			 Niall Dickson Chief Executive The King's Fund 
			 Andrew Dillon Chief Executive National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 
			 Dr. Michael Dixon Chair NHS Alliance 
			 Anne Duffy Director Community and District Nursing Association 
			 Lynne Elwell Co-ordinator Partners in Policy 
			 Dr. Sam Everington Acting Chairman of Council British Medical Association 
			 Paul Farmer Chief Executive Mind 
			 Moira Gibb Chief Executive London Borough of Camden 
			 Professor Ian Gilmore President Royal College of Physicians 
			 Alex Gourlay Healthcare Director Alliance Boots 
			 Phil Gray Chief Executive Chartered Society of Physiotherapy 
			 Martin Green Chief Executive English Community Care Association 
			 Professor Rod Griffiths President Faculty of Public Health 
			 Professor Chris Ham Professor of Health Policy and Management Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham 
			 Sharon Holder National Officer, Public Services Section GMB 
			 Peter Hollins Chief Executive British Heart Foundation 
			 Tom Hughes-Hallett Chief Executive Marie Curie Cancer Care 
			 Neil Hunt Chief Executive Alzheimer's Society 
			 Karen Jennings National Secretary for Health Unison 
			 Richard Jones Chairman NHS Partners Network 
			 Tim Kelsey Chair of Executive Board Dr. Foster Intelligence 
			 Professor Mayur Lakhani Chairman of Council Royal College of General Practitioners 
			 Ian Lewington Representative Cystic Fibrosis Trust 
			 Gordon Lishman Director General Age Concern England 
			 Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor Medical Director Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Dame Gill Morgan Chief Executive NHS Confederation 
			 Dr. William Moyes Chair Monitor 
			 Menghi Mulchandani Team Leader—Engagement with Disabled People National Centre for Independent Living 
			 Margaret Mythen Chief Executive The New Health Network 
			 Sir John Oldham Head Improvement Foundation 
			 Angela Pedder Chief Executive Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust 
			 David Pink Chief Executive Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance 
			 Imelda Redmond Chief Executive Carers UK 
			 Bernard Ribeiro President Royal College of Surgeons 
			 Joanne Rule Chief Executive Cancerbackup 
			 Prem Singh Chief Executive Derby City PCT 
			 Douglas Smallwood Chief Executive Diabetes UK 
			 Paul Snell Chief Inspector Commission for Social Care Inspection 
			 Paul Sutton Chief Executive South East Coast Ambulance NHS Trust 
			 Warren Town Director of Industrial Relations Society of Radiographers 
			 Anna Walker Chief Executive Healthcare Commission 
			 Dame Jo Williams Chief Executive Mencap 
			 Anne Williams President Association of Directors of Adult Social Services 
			 Emma Wilson Chief Executive Local Care Direct 
			 Andrea Young Chief Executive Oxfordshire PCT 
		
	
	
		
			  Observers 
			  Name  Job title  Organisation 
			 James Fothergill Head of Public Procurement: Health and Local Government Confederation of British Industry 
			 Rachael McIlroy Public Services Policy Officer Trades Union Congress

Disability Aids

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the review of community equipment for disabled people and wheelchair services to report.

Ivan Lewis: With regards to the review of community equipment, I reviewed the outline business case and on 19 April 2007, I approved the next phase of the development of the new model.
	During the next 10 months, the transforming community equipment and wheelchair services team will work with users and their carers, councils and their primary care trust partners, practitioners as well as other stakeholders to develop the outline community equipment model to operational status by April 2008.
	With regards to wheelchair services, I have agreed a further data gathering exercise and asked the Care Services Efficiency Delivery programme to report to me in autumn 2007.

Disability Aids: Children

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of communication aids to disabled children; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We have not made any assessment of the availability of communication aids to disabled children.
	The transforming community equipment services project is developing a market model for the provision of community equipment, including communication aids.
	Responsibility for assessing people's individual communication aids needs rests with local health and social care agencies. They are in the best position to determine local service priorities, using the increasing resources that the Government have made available.

Doctors: Foreign Workers

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who chose the 5 February 2007 date set for the Home Office stamp to be placed in the passports of Highly Skilled Migrant Programme doctors; why it was chosen; what other dates were considered; what process of consultation took place on the choice of date; whether responses were received from  (a) the Home Department,  (b) representatives of doctors in training and  (c) directors of medical training; who has the power to (i) change the date and (ii) accept a Home Department letter in place of the Home Office stamp; what estimate he has made of the number of (A) junior doctors and (B) medical directors who were unaware of the details of the requirement; and what information was available to Ministers of the time it would take for (x) Highly Skilled Migrant Programme status to be granted and (y) the stamp to be placed in a passport.

Ben Bradshaw: The Conference of Post-Graduate Medical Deans Steering Group for Recruitment and Selection for Specialty Training was created to establish the rules and criteria for entry to specialty training in 2007. Its membership included post-graduate deans for medical education, representatives of employers, deanery recruitment teams, royal colleges, trainee doctors and the Department. The steering group agreed that all eligibility criteria including for example General Medical Council registration, Royal College exams, English language proficiency and the right to work in the United Kingdom, would be assessed on the last date on which applications to the 2007 recruitment could be submitted. The date was originally set at 4 February. When the application period was extended until 5 February the date for assessing eligibility criteria was also extended. The decision to set the assessment of eligibility criteria on 5 February was a practical one, designed to ensure that all doctors would be subject to the same criteria, and that eligibility was fixed at the start of the process rather than being subject to change at any time, creating operational difficulties.
	The Home Office advised that the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme approval letter does not grant doctors leave to remain in the United Kingdom under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme and so was not accepted when the assessment of a candidate's right to work was made.
	The eligibility criteria for round 2 have been published and no changes have been made.

Donors

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has considered to increase the number of organs retrieved from  (a) heart-beating and  (b) non-heart-beating donors.

Ann Keen: The Department launched "Saving Lives, Valuing Donors: A Transplant Framework for England" in 2003 and the National Service Framework for Renal Services in 2004. These set out the Department's key aims for organ and tissue transplantation over the following 10 years. Over the last five years, Government investment in hospital- based initiatives has helped increase live and non- heart-beating donor rates. An organ donor taskforce will report to Ministers in autumn 2007 on how organ donor rates can be further improved.

Fluoride: Drinking Water

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to each health authority of implementing the fluoridation of public drinking water.

Ann Keen: For a strategic health authority with an average population of 5 million we estimate the capital costs of the water plant would be about £25 million and the recurrent costs of the operation of the plant and the fluoride chemicals would be around 80p per head of population per year.

Health Services: Training

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many training commissions there were for the main health service professions, including podiatry between 2001 and 2006.

Ann Keen: The number of training commissions for nurses and all allied health professionals including chiropodists/podiatrists between 2001-02 and 2005-06 is shown in the table.
	The second table shows the number of trainee doctors who entered medical school between 2001-02 and 2005-06.
	
		
			  Pre registration training commissions 
			 of which: 
			   Nursing  All allied health professionals  Chiropody/podiatry 
			 2001-02 20,624 5,513 345 
			 2002-03 21,523 6,454 427 
			 2003-04 22,815 7,098 451 
			 2004-05 23,377 7,456 559 
			 2005-06 23,230 7,640 446 
			  Source: NMET Quarterly Monitoring Returns 
		
	
	
		
			   Medical school intake 
			 2001-02 4,713 
			 2002-03 5,277 
			 2003-04 6,082 
			 2004-05 6,294 
			 2005-06 6,314 
			  Source: HEFCE

Health Services: Training

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2007,  Official Report, column 2178W, on health services: training, if he will publish validated data relating to expenditure and training in 2006-07, broken down by strategic health authority.

Ann Keen: The following table shows the 2006-07 Multi-Professional Education and Training (MPET) allocations made to strategic health authorities (SHAs) and the actual outturn expenditure reported by the SHAs.
	2006-07 MPET allocation and expenditure
	
		
			  £ 000 
			  SHA  2006-07 allocation  2006-07 outturn  Variance 
			 East Midlands 276,532 254,930 21,602 
			 Eastern 291,090 258,953 32,137 
			 London 898,301 823,584 74,717 
			 North East 199,527 189,623 9,904 
			 North West 500,102 467,240 32,862 
			 South Central 256,782 223,683 33,099 
			 South East Coast 201,456 174,302 27,154 
			 South West 308,193 272,016 36,177 
			 West Midlands 350,911 304,652 46,259 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 484,048 440,461 43,587 
			 England Total 3,766,940 3,409,444 357,496 
			  Notes: 1. All figures are provisional. 2. Allocation figures do not include any money recurrently remapped from service.

Health: Stockport

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of people in Stockport who have long-term illnesses.

Ann Keen: In the 2005 Healthcare Commission primary care trust (PCT) survey of patients, 34 per cent. of respondents in Stockport PCT responded yes to the question "Do you have a long-standing physical or mental health problem or disability?"

Hospitals: Finance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which major hospital schemes with a capital value over £20 million reached financial close in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007 so far; which are expected to reach financial close in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009; and what the actual or expected capital cost and completion date is of each scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is in the table
	
		
			  Year of financial close/tender award( 1)  National health service trust  Capital value (£ million)  Operational date  Procurement route 
			 2006 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals 67 Q2 2008 Private finance initiative (PFI) 
			  Ipswich Hospital 36 Q4 2011 PR 
			  Barts and the London 1,000 Q4 2013 PR 
			  St. Helen's Hospitals 338 Q4 2008 PR 
			  University Hospital Birmingham 627 Q1 2010 PFI 
			  South West Essex Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) 30 Q3 2008 PFI 
			  Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals 51 Q4 2007 Public capital 
			  Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children 75 Q3 2011 Public capital 
			  United Bristol Healthcare/North Bristol 64 Q1 2009 Public capital 
			 2007 to date Taunton and Somerset 21 Q1 2009 PFI 
			  Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals 29 Q1 2009 Public capital 
			  Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 29 Q2 2009 PFI 
			  University Hospital of North Staffordshire 306 Q4 2012 PFI 
			  Mid Yorkshire Hospitals 343 Q2 2010 PFI 
			  Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals 336 Q1 2012 PFI 
			 2007 to end South Essex Partnership 30 Q2 2009 PR 
			  Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys 78 Q4 2008 PFI 
			  Redcar and Cleveland PCT 40 Q4 2008 PFI 
			  Tameside and Glossop Acute Services 109 Q3 2009 PFI 
			  Mid Essex Hospital Services 143 Q2 2010 PFI 
			  North Middlesex University Hospital 111 Q2 2010 PFI 
			  Salford Royal Hospitals 190 Q1 2011 PFI 
			  Derbyshire Mental Health 29 Q1 2009 PFI 
			  Northamptonshire Healthcare 36 Q3 2008 PFI 
			  Walsall Hospitals 141 Q4 2009 PFI 
			 2008 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells 225 Q4 2010 PFI 
			  Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys/County Durham PCT 40 Being finalised PFI 
			  University Hospitals of Leicester 711 Q4 2012 PFI 
			 2009 onwards(2) North Bristol/South Gloucestershire PCTs 310 Being finalised PFI 
			  Southampton University Hospitals 55 Being finalised PFI 
			  Hillingdon Hospital 139 Being finalised PFI 
			  Taunton and Somerset 57 Being finalised PR 
			  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital 56 Being finalised PFI 
			  North West London Hospitals 305 Being finalised PFI 
			  Southend Hospital 100 Being finalised PFI 
			  Papworth Hospitals 125 Being finalised PFI 
			  Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals 342 Being finalised PFI 
			  West Hertfordshire Hospitals 200 Being finalised PFI 
			  East and North Hertfordshire 250 Being finalised PFI 
			  Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals 225 Being finalised PFI 
			  Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital 142 Being finalised PFI 
			  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 50 Being finalised PFI 
			  Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals 200 Being finalised PFI 
			  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals 40 Being finalised PFI 
			  United Bristol Healthcare 80 Being finalised PFI 
			  Mersey Care 170 Being finalised PFI 
			  Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals 200 Being finalised PFI 
			  Leicestershire Partnership 50 Being finalised PFI 
			  Leeds Teaching hospitals 600 Being finalised PFI 
			  West London Mental Health 243 Being finalised Public capital 
			 (1) Tender award date1 is the equivalent of financial close for public capital funded schemes.  (2) It is not yet known what schemes are likely to reach financial close or award tender during 2009.

Hospitals: Private Finance Initiative

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals in Greater London do not have private finance initiative debts.

Ben Bradshaw: Under a private finance initiative contract a debt is incurred in the course of normal commercial practice under which the private sector partner submits a monthly invoice for services provided. Information is not collected centrally on failures by national health service trusts to meet these payments.

Kidney Patients: Medical Treatments

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people  (a) received an estimated glomerular filtration rate test for kidney function,  (b) were referred to a nephrologist for further investigation and  (c) received treatment for chronic kidney disease in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people received treatment for the management of chronic kidney disease in each year since 2000.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally and there are no plans to collect data on these specific issues.
	The overwhelming majority of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are under the care of general practitioners and do not need to be seen by secondary or tertiary hospital services.
	At general practice level, the maintenance of a practice register of patients with CKD became a part of the quality and outcomes framework in April 2006, which should mean that a very comprehensive CKD dataset will develop over the next few years.
	Data on people newly diagnosed with CKD for the year 2006-07 should be available from September 2007.

Kidney Patients: Medical Treatments

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has undertaken of whether the standards and markers of best practice identified in the National Service Framework for Renal Services are being met across England.

Ann Keen: The Department published "The National Service Framework for Renal Services: Second Progress Report" in May 2007, and this sets out its up to date view on the implementation of the National Service Framework for Renal Services.

Kidney Patients: Medical Treatments

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received renal replacement therapy in each year since 2000; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of people likely to receive renal replacement therapy over the next 10 years.

Ann Keen: According to the renal registry, actual numbers at 31 December each year were as follows.
	
		
			   England 
			 2000 29,074 
			 2001 30,042 
			 2002 31,009 
			 2003 32,297 
			 2004 33,644 
			 2005 34,975 
		
	
	Projected growth in numbers on renal replacement therapy is set out in the National Service Framework for Renal Services. It is predicted that numbers will rise to around 45,000 over the 10 years ending in 2014.

Kidney Patients: Medical Treatments

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people with established renal failure waited longer than six months to be referred for assessment and surgery prior to receiving haemodialysis in each of the last four years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people with established renal failure waited longer than four months to be referred for assessment and surgery prior to receiving peritoneal dialysis in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: There is no specific waiting list for dialysis. Dialysis is often an emergency treatment and patients with no kidney function will die in a matter of weeks if they do not receive dialysis. For patients whose disease has been identified well in advance of end-stage renal failure, dialysis begins at a time that the individual and his or her consultant feel is appropriate. Part 1 of the National Service Framework for Renal Services recommends starting to prepare people for dialysis about a year before it will be needed, as such preparation leads to better outcomes for the patient.

Kidney Patients: Medical Treatments

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is issued to GPs concerning estimated glomerula filtration rate test results for kidney function.

Ann Keen: The National Service Framework (NSF) for Renal Services recommended that, when kidney function is assessed and monitored, the most sensitive way to detect kidney disease is by use of a formula-based estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). To support the introduction of eGFR reporting, in 2006 the Department issued an information pack to the national health service. This consists of fact sheets which were sent to all general practitioners' practices and pathology laboratories, explaining how to calculate and interpret eGFR, together with a note on frequently asked questions.

Kidney Patients: Medical Treatments

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dialysis machines were available for use within the NHS in each year since 2000; and how many were located in  (a) hospital renal units,  (b) satellite units and  (c) at patients' homes.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally on a regular basis. The Department commissioned the United Kingdom Renal Registry to undertake a one-off UK-wide survey in 2003 which identified (in 2002) 1,313 dialysis stations in hospital units in England, 1,268 in satellite units and 482 in people's homes. The number will almost certainly have grown significantly since.

Kidney Patients: Medical Treatments

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received  (a) haemodialysis and  (b) peritoneal dialysis in NHS facilities in each year since 2000.

Ann Keen: Information on the services provided specifically in national health services facilities is not collated centrally, as almost all United Kingdom haemodialysis facilities, whether operated by the NHS itself or the independent sector, are contracted to the NHS.
	As at 31 December each year, the numbers of patients receiving NHS services for renal dialysis in England, whether in NHS or independent sector settings, were as follows:
	
		
			   Haemodialysis  Peritoneal Dialysis 
			 2000 10,651 4,741 
			 2001 11,235 4,673 
			 2002 11,789 4,605 
			 2003 12,961 4,455 
			 2004 13,875 4,333 
			 2005 14,438 4,227

Maternity Services: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) maternities and  (b) full-time equivalent midwives there were in England in each year since 1997; how many full-time equivalent midwives per 1,000 maternities there were in each year; and what definition his Department uses of maternity.

Ann Keen: The number of maternities is collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) through birth registration, and published in FM1, Birth Statistics.
	
		
			   Number of maternities 
			 1997 602,452 
			 1998 596,413 
			 1999 583,923 
			 2000 567,297 
			 2001 558,271 
			 2002 560,332 
			 2003 584,450 
			 2004 601,467 
			 2005 607,090 
		
	
	The latest data available for the number of maternities in England are for 2005. Provisional data for 2006 show that there were 669,531 live births in England. The number of births is not the number of maternities, due to multiple births and still births.
	The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) midwives is collected by the Information Centre (previously collected by the Department) in the Non-Medical Workforce Census, an annual snapshot census on 30 September.
	
		
			   FTE midwives 
			 1997 18,053 
			 1998 18,168 
			 1999 17,876 
			 2000 17,662 
			 2001 18,048 
			 2002 18,119 
			 2003 18,444 
			 2004 18,854 
			 2005 18,949 
			 2006 18,862 
		
	
	The latest available data are for 2006.
	The previous data can be used to calculate the number of FTE midwives per 1,000 maternities:
	
		
			   Midwives per 1,000 maternities 
			 1997 30.0 
			 1998 30.5 
			 1999 30.6 
			 2000 31.1 
			 2001 32.3 
			 2002 32.3 
			 2003 31.6 
			 2004 31.3 
			 2005 31.2 
			  Notes:  1. These data are collected using the ONS definition of a maternity: "A confinement resulting in the birth of one or more live-born or stillborn children." Therefore, the number of maternities is less than the total number of live births and stillbirths.  2. A still birth is a child that has issued forth from its mother after the 24th week of pregnancy, and that did not at any time after being completely expelled from its mother breathe or show any signs of life. Loss of the foetus before 24 weeks is not recorded as a still birth, but as a miscarriage.

Medical Treatments: EU Countries

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to improve the online application service for European health insurance cards;
	(2)  how many complaints his Department has received about the online application procedure for the European health insurance card in the last 12 months;
	(3)  what mechanism his Department has for monitoring the performance of the online application service for the European health insurance card.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department receives a lot of correspondence (this includes phone calls, letters and e-mails) relating to the European health insurance card (EHIC). This is not broken down into category and we do not therefore have a figure for the number of complaints concerning the online application service. The online application service is very successful with 3.3 million cards being issued between 1 June 2006 and 31 May 2007 using this process (nearly 60 per cent. of all applications). Feedback received is that our normal speed of service is particularly valued.
	Performance of the EHIC service is monitored through regular service level agreement meetings with the Business Services Authority (BSA) who administer the scheme. Feedback is regularly reviewed by both the Department and the BSA and improvements to the service including the online application service are made as required.

Midwives: Employment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to provide job opportunities in the NHS for new midwives on graduation.

Ann Keen: The social partnership forum action plan for maximising employment opportunities for newly qualified healthcare professionals in a changing national health service was launched on 13 April. It sets out recommendations between employers, trade unions and the education sector, to put in place positive steps to maximise the employment opportunities for healthcare graduates, including midwives.
	NHS Employers is responsible for monitoring progress against each of the action plan recommendations and will provide a report to the monthly meetings of the social partnership forum steering group.

NHS Treatment Centres: Standards

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1637W, on NHS treatment centres: standards, what the evidential basis is for the statement that NHS walk-in centres contribute significantly to improving access to services for many people.

Ben Bradshaw: An estimated 3 million people every year are seen and treated at national health service walk-in centres in England. The centres are treating patients who would otherwise be using other NHS services.

NHS: Anniversaries

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to commemorate the 60(th) anniversary in July 2008 of the founding of the national health service; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is currently considering plans to commemorate the 60(th) anniversary.

NHS: Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1314W to the hon. Member for Rayleigh on NHS: consultants, what the names were of the working groups and reference groups set up during the negotiation and implementation of the consultant contract;
	(2)  what the membership of each of the working groups and reference groups was.

Ann Keen: During the negotiations for the consultant contract there were a number of informal reference and working groups from 2001-04. These groups conducted business in meetings but also covered a large amount of business via e-mail. These groups did not have official titles. The main groups were:
	the negotiation group—which included national health service chief executives, medical directors, human resources directors, and representation from the NHS Confederation;
	a wider reference group—which included a wider range of representatives from NHS employing organisations; and
	the implementation group—members from NHS Modernisation Agency, NHS Confederation, strategic health authorities and NHS employing organisations.

NHS: Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Rayleigh of 14 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1313W, on NHS: consultants, which of her Department's Ministers were involved in these discussions.

Ann Keen: My right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) was the Secretary of State for Health during the 2002 Spending Review discussions on the contract. At the time that the new contract proposals were agreed, my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (John Reid) was Secretary of State for Health.

NHS: Finance

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact on service provision by health trusts of the clawing back of funding.

Ben Bradshaw: Unaudited figures for 2006-07 show that the national health service delivered a net surplus of £510 million at the end of 2006-07, recovering from a £547 million deficit in 2005-06. This transformation in financial performance has been achieved in the context of continued improvements in both access to and the quality of patient care.
	A key component to the overall financial recovery in 2006-07 has been the rigorous action taken by strategic health authorities (SHAs) to manage financial risk at local level. This has been largely achieved by the prudent management of central NHS programme funds to create a £450 million contingency, and by the top-slicing of primary care trust allocations to create SHA reserves. We have not expected any one NHS sector to contribute more in financial savings than any other part of the health system, except where that sector has specifically contributed to a deficit.
	The financial recovery in 2006-07, brought about by this local action and the introduction of a stronger, fairer and more transparent financial regime, has put the NHS on a much firmer financial footing for 2007-08 and beyond.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which items of expenditure were included in the NHS bundle for (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08; and what the overall value of the NHS bundle was in each year.

Ben Bradshaw: The national health service bundle incorporates a number of budgets formally managed directly by the Department.
	The value of the strategic health authority (SHA) bundle for 2006-07 was £5,460 million, and for 2007-08 is £6,946 million. Allocations are made direct to SHAs that manage the distribution of funds among the different programmes, taking account of local circumstances.
	The overall allocations are made up of £3,734 million in 2006-07 and £4,307 million in 2007-08 for work force programmes, and £1,725 million in 2006-07 and £2,639 million in 2007-08 for the remainder of the programmes.
	All figures quoted are resource budgets rounded to the nearest £ million.

NHS: Finance

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the planned capital expenditure for the NHS in 2007-08 was in the  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007 Budget; and what the reasons are for the difference between the two figures.

Ben Bradshaw: Departmental expenditure limits for the Department and national health service are available in annex C of the Budget 2006 and Budget 2007. As set out in Budget 2007 the Government updated the capital figures for 2007-08 for the NHS in England to make them consistent with projected levels of spend, leaving aside exceptional items. NHS spending plans were unaffected by revisions to expenditure figures published in Budget 2007.

NHS: ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 747W, on NHS: ICT, in which document the Cabinet Office best practice is set out.

Ben Bradshaw: Strategic guidance is provided on the Cabinet Office website under IT in Government and can be accessed at:
	www.cio.gov.uk/reliable_project_delivery/index.asp.
	Two further basic references, recommended by the Office of Government Commerce which supports operational governance for the national programme for IT, are PRINCE 2 and Managing Successful Programmes. These can be found at:
	www.ogc.gov.uk/methods_prince_2.asp and
	www.ogc.gov.uk/delivery_lifecycle_overview_of_managing_ successful_programmes_msp_.asp
	In addition, Improving Programme and Project Delivery available at www.pm.gov.uk/files/pdf/ippd.pdf is an example of other documentation available on government websites which provides helpful guidance in this area.

NHS: Procurement

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to review NHS purchasing processes, with particular reference to enabling clinicians to commission appropriate technologies where hospital-acquired infections are concerned;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on NHS purchasing processes, with particular reference to the delivery of effective management of hospital-acquired infections.

Ben Bradshaw: All national health service procurement must fully comply with European Union regulations and be a transparent process. Proper emphasis must be placed on guidance provided by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and information on products provided by the centre for evidence based purchasing. However, the Government recognise the need to ensure swift access for clinicians to products which are innovative and effective in supporting the reduction in healthcare-associated infections, and processes are being reviewed to meet this challenge.
	A best practice procurement framework has been developed as part of the health industry taskforce outcomes to ensure NHS procurement is aligned to NHS objectives and delivers outputs that are relevant. This framework will also ensure better decision-making in the NHS through category management and sourcing groups managed locally by the collaborative procurement hubs.
	By working within this new framework the key targets and objectives of health and social care, such as health care-associated infection, can be appropriately aligned with benefits to be derived from procurement.
	Currently there are no plans to review NHS procurement processes.

NHS: Procurement

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS suppliers have been awaiting outstanding payments for  (a) up to (i) 30, (ii) 60, (iii) 90 and (iv) 120 days and  (b) more than 120 days; and what the value of the payments owed is in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Osteoporosis: Medical Treatments

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of women who do not respond to alendronate as treatment for osteoporotic fractures;
	(2)  what guidance his Department provides to general practitioners on the provision of treatment to men at risk of osteoporotic fractures;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of demographic change on the incidence of osteoporosis.

Ann Keen: The Department has made no assessment of the impact of demographic change on the incidence of osteoporosis.
	Detailed guidance for health professionals on the provision of treatment for both men and woman at risk of osteoporotic fractures is provided on the National Library for Health Clinical Knowledge Summaries website www.cks.library.nhs.uk.
	No estimate has been made of the number of women who do respond to alendronate as a treatment to prevent further osteoporotic fractures.

Patients: Travel

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether rurality and travelling distance for patients are considered alongside national clinical guidelines during acute services reviews.

Ann Keen: Any proposals for major changes to services are a matter for the national health service locally.
	We would expect the local NHS to take into account the widest possible variety of issues, including rurality and travelling distance, when putting forward and consulting on such proposals.
	No decisions will be taken about changes to local NHS services until full public consultation has taken place.

Thyroid Disease: Fluoride

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the incidence of thyroid disease in fluoridated areas;
	(2)  what plans he has to establish mechanisms to monitor the ingestion of fluoride as a precaution against toxicity.

Ann Keen: The Department has commissioned and funded two research studies on fluoridation and health. "A Systematic Review of Public Water Fluoridation", published by the University of York in 2000, identified two studies, which found no significant association between thyroid disorders, water fluoridation, and one study with a positive association. However, the positive study looked at combined fluoride/iodine intakes and has not been published in a peer review journal. "Water Fluoridation and Health", published by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in 2002 endorsed York's recommendation on the need for further research into fluoridation, but awarded low priority to further research on thyroid disorders. This was because the MRC judged the scientific plausibility of an association between water fluoridation and thyroid disease to be low.
	We are committed to a continuing programme of research on the effects of fluoridation on health. And, under section 90A of the Water Industry Act 1991, strategic health authorities (SHAs) are required to monitor the effects of fluoridation schemes on the health of persons living in the fluoridated area and publish reports containing an analysis of the effects on health at four-yearly intervals. The West Midland Public Health Observatory is leading on the compilation of a set of standard indicators which will enable comparisons to be made between the findings of different SHAs.

Transplant Surgery: Kidneys

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were removed from the national transplant list for kidneys without completing an organ transplant in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The number of patients removed from the United Kingdom kidney transplant list during 2004-06 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Status  2004  2005  2006 
			 Removed(1) 377 426 326 
			 Died 281 306 293 
			 Total 658 732 619 
			 (1) There are many reasons for removal—for example, condition improved, condition deteriorated. Patients can be reregistered following removal.

Transplant Surgery: Standards

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of renal and transplant units are participating in national comparative audits and benchmarking by submitting data to the UK Renal Registry of the Renal Association and UK Transplant.

Ann Keen: The Renal Registry is now collecting data on incidence and prevalence for 100 per cent. of United Kingdom renal units (with summary data being provided by the five non-linked sites in England). One hundred per cent. of transplant units submit data to UK Transplant.

Water: Schools

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on the  (a) provision of water in schools and  (b) effect of dehydration on mental performance.

Ann Keen: The Department has not discussed with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families the provision of water in schools or the effect of dehydration on mental performance.
	It is important that children develop a healthy diet, and a school plays an important role in helping to introduce and reinforce these behaviours. Through the national Healthy Schools programme run jointly between the Department, and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, schools are doing a lot of work to improve diet, for example by phasing out items which are low in nutritional value such as fizzy drinks. Teachers tell us that improved diet has had both health and other benefits such as calmer children who are better behaved and a ready to learn. Good hydration helps to reduce tiredness and irritability, and increases concentration. It also contributes to a more settled and productive learning environment.